NORTHERN EDGE 2009: Unites make Alaskan detour for exercise before deployment to Guam

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Sarah E. Stegman
  • 2d Bomb Wing Public Affairs
Barksdale Air Force Base, La. --  The 2d Bomb Wing's READY Team spent two of the last three weekends preparing and loading 5 cargo planes with 184.8 short tons of gear to safely deploy more than 250 Airmen leaving Barksdale in support of the Air Force's continuous bomber presence mission. 

The second leg of Airmen loaded up in a commercial jet and flew to Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 7, for a 25-day detour to Alaska in support of the state's premier joint military training exercise - Northern Edge 2009. 

"This deployment was different in that we are also simultaneously supporting Exercise Northern Edge in Alaska," said 1st Lt. Aaron Hughes, Barksdale's Installation Deployment Officer. "The majority of those supporting Northern Edge will forward deploy to Guam and join those who previously deployed directly to the island." 

Northern Edge began Monday and wraps up June 26. 

During the two-week exercise more than 9,000 participants from all services will sharpen their skills by practicing operations, techniques, and procedures. The joint training event provides effective, flexible and capabilities-centered joint forces ready for deployment worldwide and enables real world proficiency in detection and tracking of units at sea, in the air and on land, and response to multiple crises. 

Upon completion of Northern Edge, the more than 75 Barksdale Airmen will deploy to Andersen Air Base, Guam, for real-world implementation of training scenarios and to assist the U.S. Pacific Command in maintaining stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region. 

That stability is a vital message given recent events in the area of responsibility according to Col. Steven Basham, 2d Bomb Wing commander, in a speech to the deploying Airmen. 

"Make no mistake, you are a message of this country's commitment to the Asia-Pacific region," said Colonel Basham. "We are that instrument by which this great nation communicates a message to adversarial deviants that we are here, we're embedded, and we plan to stay. Not only on our soil, but we're also committed to our partners in the region." 

Barksdale supports four-month deployment rotations along with Minot AFB, N.D., and Whiteman AFB, Mo., to support the continuous bomber presence.