JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Nearly 100 Alaska Air National Guard members from the 176th Wing will deploy this week to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The deployers are primarily from the wing’s 144^th Airlift Squadron and 176th Maintenance Group with additional support personnel.

“Our training really shows in the deployed environment,” said Lt. Col. Dirk Cain, 144^th Airlift Squadron, mission commander of the deployment. “We’re looking to do our best and to represent the state of Alaska well.”

The group’s primary wartime mission is to support the movement of cargo and personnel. The members of the 144^th Airlift Squadron fly the C-130 Hercules.

The deployers will leave from Joint-Base Elmendorf-Richardson over the course of several days. The largest single group of deployers is expected to leave June 26.

Most of the deployers will remain in Kuwait on a 60-day rotation.

Since 1952, the 176th Wing has effectively served Alaskans at home and American interests abroad. Today, the JBER-based unit is among the largest and busiest wings in the Air National Guard.