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AFGLSC warriors reflect on recent deployment

  • Published
  • By Brandice J. O'Brien
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Duty called and they went.

An Air Force Global Logistics Support Center captain and two master sergeants assigned to Tinker deployed to Iraq earlier this year. Now back for two months, the Airmen recall their experiences.

The Airmen said during their six-month deployment they learned new skills and adapted to a new and unfamiliar work environment. They also gained a greater appreciation for the mission at large.

"I do have a great appreciation, having not experienced deployment before," said Master Sgt. Teri Beswetherick, 422nd Supply Chain Management Squadron logistics management specialist. "I learned to appreciate the simple things that people take for granted, like doing your own laundry since there you have to use a laundry service that takes 72 hours. Also, everything is tan, so being able to see something as simple as green grass is something else I have come to appreciate."

Sergeant Beswetherick - who at Tinker works with maintenance and contracted personnel discussing weapon systems repairs statuses to fill customer requirements - journeyed to Mosul, Iraq, where she became a redistribution property assistance team superintendent. Within her position, she took accountability of the area's equipment and redistributed it to specified destinations.

"We were taking accountability so units could redeploy as well as move the assets so they could support operations elsewhere," she said.

Sergeant Beswetherick said her days were long and busy with little time off, but there were small reminders of home.

"I was in northern Iraq, close to Turkey. I didn't leave the forward operating base, but from what I could see, the city of Mosul is large and looked like Oklahoma City at night with all of the buildings and lights," the sergeant said.

Capt. Michael Frasco, 848th Supply Chain Management Group Operations officer, said his deployment gave him a deeper appreciation for the warfighter and those who support it.

While overseas on his third deployment, the captain was the officer-in-charge of the Redistribution Property Accountability Team where he served as a Joint Expeditionary Tasking Airman. Assigned to an Army Field Support Brigade, he said he was responsible for ensuring the Army units in his area were redeploying their equipment worth more than $240 million.

"My passion was ensuring the JET Airmen that worked for me at the RPAT were taken care of. In turn, they were phenomenal," said Captain Frasco. "They did an amazing job in the transition to Operation New Dawn. They smashed every challenge with a level of dedication like I've never seen. They are just an amazing group of men and women."

At Tinker, Captain Frasco is responsible for providing life-cycle logistics for assigned engines and commodities and reports directly to the group commander, a stark contrast to his deployed assignment.

Working 12-plus hour workdays, without days off, the captain said Airmen in the area of responsibility work incredibly hard.

"They have an amazing level of dedication to their communities, families and our way of life," he said. "We can do our jobs because of the support systems we have at home. I would like to thank everyone who has ever stopped to thank me for my service."

One of their many supporters is Gilbert Montoya, 448th Supply Chain Management Wing director.

"I am proud of the men and women who serve our great country," said Mr. Montoya. "The decisions they make on a daily basis are critical and the hard work they accomplished make all the difference in the life or death of a fellow service member in the field."

Col. Ray Mijares, 848th SCMG commander, agreed.

"As a commander, I was proud to have two of my outstanding Airmen, Captain Frasco and Sergeant Beswetherick, in the fight during this historic time," he said. "More importantly, I'm overjoyed to welcome our heroes home to their families and the 848th SCMG!"

Master Sgt. Vinetta Paige, 436th Supply Chain Operations Squadron Weapon Systems Logistics Liaison Officer manager, said this deployment - her sixth - was rewarding and extraordinarily challenging at the same time.

Though proud to serve her country, it was difficult to say goodbye to her daughter and keep her troops motivated when she knew they also missed their families. But she knew she had a job to do and she was ready when her country called for her.

"You always have to stay deployment ready," Sergeant Paige said. "You never know when your country will call you to serve and serve proudly."

At Tinker, the logistics liaison office manager is responsible for overseeing and validating the requirements for several aircraft. 

"Sergeant Paige epitomizes the seamless supply chain capability of the Air Force Global Logistics Support Center," said Colonel Scott Tew, commander of the 635th Supply Chain Operations Group at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. "She is a member of Scott AFB's 436th Supply Chain Operations Squadron, 635th Supply Chain Operations Wing, yet she is stationed at Tinker as a supply chain integrator, providing that vital link between supply managers and Air Force flight-line customers charged with launching jets."

In Iraq, she was the superintendent for the RPAT for an Army Field Support Brigade and responsible for transferring assets to the Government of Iraq, uploading convoys and distributing equipment to the warfighters in Iraq and Kuwait.

Working a mid-shift, the sergeant said she usually spent her downtimes at work so she wouldn't disturb her sleep pattern.

"It was very important to ensure all of our warfighters had all the equipment they needed," Sergeant Paige said, "and it was my job to make sure it happened."