FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- The advance team for the 1-58th Airfield Operations Battalion left Fort Rucker for the Middle East Jan. 28.
Four of the 70-member unit began their one-year deployment by saying "goodbye" to friends and Family at Cairns Airfield. While it was a somber time for most, it was not a new experience for any of the unit members.
"This makes seven deployments for me," said Master Sgt. Murphy Ho Chee, 1-58th Headquarters and Headquarters company first sergeant. "This is just like every other deployment. You think it's going to be easy, but it's not. The dynamics of every deployment are different, but it's never easy to say goodbye to Family."
The unit is scheduled to be deployed for one year and will provided air traffic control and airfield management services to various locations in the Middle East, said Maj. Sherri Sharpe, 1-58th AOB executive officer.
"Less than 72 hours ago, I looked them in the eye and asked if they were ready to go," she said. "They replied with 'Yes ma'am, I'm ready to go, send me."
Family members of the deploying Soldiers were joined by members of the 164th Theater Airfield Operations Group and 597th Maintenance Company to see their servicemembers off.
Christy Aguirre, wife of WO1 Randy Aguirre and a former Soldier, said it was difficult being on the other side of a deployment.
"I (deployed) twice, but this is the first time I've been to one of these and been the one staying," she said. "We spent as much time together as possible and we made sure I knew how to take care of all the things at home. I've started student-teaching, so that will probably take up a lot of my time."
Some Family members said the deployments were nothing new, but it was still hard to deal with the idea of not seeing their Soldiers for a year.
"This is his second time deploying, but it doesn't get any easier," said Deanna Crosby, wife of Master Sgt. Timothy Crosby, 1-58th ATC chief. "He was gone a year last time. We tried to spend as much time together as possible before he had to leave."
The 1-58th AOB was created three years ago to fill a gap in air traffic services, said Sharpe. It works with other entities and contract agencies in theater to provide more ATC support.
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