Travis begins AEF deployments

Staff Sgt. Carolyn Tabije, 60th Medical Operations Squadron, offers her daughter Lei Ling, 2, a strawberry at the Travis Passenger Terminal May 5. Sergeant Tabije, along with approximately 60 Team Travis members bid farewell to family and friends before departing as part of Air Expeditionary Force-cycles 7/8. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Candy Knight)

Travis begins AEF deployments

Staff Sgt. Kenneth Gately, 60th Diagnostics and Therapeutic Squadron, repacks his overnight snack bag while waiting to board the aircraft May 5. Sergeant Gately’s wife packed his bag with snacks so he would not get hungry during the long flight to the area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force by Staff Sgt. Candy Knight)

Travis begins AEF deployments

Senior Airman Ashley Smith, 60th Medical Support Squadron, says goodbye to her friend's baby before departing for her AEF deployment May 5. More than 60 members of Team Travis deployed from Travis in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Candy Knight)

Travis begins AEF deployments

An Airman says goodbye to a family member at the Travis Passenger Terminal May 5 before departing as part of Air Expeditionary Force-cycles 7/8. More than 100 Airmen from various Air Force bases departed Travis to different locations in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Candy Knight)

Travis begins AEF rotations

Published May 8, 2007
By 1st Lt. Lindsey Hahn and Staff Sgt. Candy Knight
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- With their mobility records in hand and their airplane pillow fluffed and ready for the long journey, more than 60 Team Travis members bid farewell to family and friends at the Travis Passenger Terminal before departing on their deployments May 5.

"I'm going to miss her," said Jay Peaveley, husband of Capt. Linda Peaveley, 60th Medical Operations Squadron. "We went out and bought webcams so that we can keep in touch and see each other every now and again."

The deployers will join other Airmen from across the Air Force as part of Air Expeditionary Force-cycles 7/8, supporting Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom.

For some Airmen, such as Staff Sgt. Janice Shipman, 60th Medical Support Squadron, this is not their first deployment, but their second, third and, in some cases, fourth.

"I'm a little sad about having to deploy, but I'm excited at the same time because I'm going with a great group of people," Sergeant Shipman said.

"This is my second deployment and I'm very excited about this one because I'm going as a medical technician and not as an escort," said Senior Airman Ashley Smith, 60th Medical Support Squadron.

For others, this will be the first time they'll experience a "real world" deployment to the area of responsibility.

"Getting the rare opportunity to visit a foreign country and experience the 'real military' is very thrilling," said Staff Sgt. Kenneth Gately, 60th Diagnostics and Therapeutic Squadron. "I couldn't be more proud."

"I don't want to leave my family," Captain Peaveley said. "But we understand the bigger picture and we knew this could happen."
For the Airmen and their families, whether it was the first deployment or the fourth, it's never easy to say goodbye.

"I going to miss my 4-year old niece, Emma Marie. She's the first thing I see when I wake up and the last thing I see when I go to bed. It's going to be hard not seeing her for so long," Airman Smith said.

"My husband, Anthony, says he's excited and okay with my leaving, but I know he's just putting up a façade of excitement and deep down he's sad and he's going to miss me just as much as I miss him," Sergeant Shipman said.