507th Civil Engineer returns from deployment 2

Staff Sgt. Elmer A. Swann, a liquid fuel systems journyman with the 507th Civil Engineer Squadron smiles excitedly yesterday as he sees his family for the first time in six months. Swann was returning from a six month mid east deployment. Sergeant Swann, an Air Force Reservist, is a member of the 507th Air Refueling Wing at Tinker Air Force Base.

507th Civil Engineers return from deployment 2

Staff Sgt. Elmer A. Swann, a liquid fuel systems journyman with the 507th Civil Engineer Squadron reunites with his son yesterday at the Will Rogers World Airport. Sergeant Swann had just returned from a six months deployment to the mid east. Swann, an Air Force Reservist, is a member of the 507th Air Refueling Wing at Tinker Air Force Base.

Oklahoma Air Force reservists return from deployment

Published March 10, 2011
By Technical Sgt. Zach Jacobs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Oklahoma -- Members of the 507th Civil Engineer Squadron returned to Oklahoma yesterday after serving the previous six months at various locations in the mid east supporting Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and NEW DAWN.

The civil engineers are members of the 507th Air Refueling Wing, U.S. Air Force Reserve, located at Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City, Okla.

Between August 26 and September 7, 2010, 23 wing Airmen arrived at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan; three arrived at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan; six reported for duty at Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq; two at Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyz Republic; and another six reported to an undisclosed location.

While deployed, the civil engineers engaged in work operations supporting joint expeditionary taskings (JETs). Those deployed to Kandahar were assigned to the 777th Expeditionary Prime BEEF (base engineer emergency force) Squadron (EPBS). The Air Force EPBSs maximize the spectrum of abilities and talents that civil engineers bring to the engagement.

The majority of the deployed civil engineers worked "outside the wire" sorties in support of in-theater priorities. They helped maintain the infrastructure required to support the force surge. Throughout the region, their skills were called upon to support joint war fighter requirements and local community outreach initiatives.

According to local wing officials, the civil engineers did an outstanding job while deployed, adding that the entire wing is proud of their accomplishments.