Nevada Air Guardsmen return from historic deployment supporting Operation Epic Fury

Six months after a one-week notice federal callup, Nevada Air National Guardsmen and four C-130 aircraft returned home Sunday from deployment to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of Operation Epic Fury.

Sunday concluded the largest short-notice deployment of the Nevada Air National Guard since the Persian Gulf War in 1991. It is the third largest such deployment in the organization’s history. The other occurred during the Pueblo Crisis in 1968 when 600 Nevada Air Guardsmen in Reno were called on one-week notice in response to North Korea's seizing of a U.S. naval vessel. Aircrew, maintenance and support personnel for four aircraft participated in this summer's deployment (exceeding 200 total Airmen for the mobilization of troops).

The 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air National Guard — with its C-130 H3 tactical airlift mission — was listed as a "contingency response available" this spring before Operation Epic Fury began.

“It’s a six-month available window to be ready for any overseas contingency,” said Lt. Col. David McNally, 192nd Airlift Squadron commander and pilot who deployed this summer. "The High Rollers were on the list to go and answered the call. We are always ready when our nation calls and this deployment showed that."

The 152nd High Rollers provided tactical airlift for theater movement during Epic Fury, including munitions and personnel.

“I don’t think our unit has faced a bigger threat,” McNally said. “They were in weapon engagement zones. They did a hell of a job and operated for six months through war. They did it without any losses and were one hundred percent mission effective the entire time. Any tasking we were called to do — we filled. It all comes back to our training here in Nevada. That played a significant part in our success."

Additional specifics on theater operations will not be released by the Nevada National Guard given operational security for members of the military currently deployed in CENTCOM.

The 152nd Airlift Wing has operated at the Nevada Air National Guard Base at the south runway of the Reno-Tahoe International Airport since 1954. Before that, its aviators worked out of the Stead Air Force Base north of Reno (1948-1954). It has operated C-130 Hercules since 1996.

The Nevada National Guard has services available for members of the military and their families, including chaplains, behavioral health specialists and the Military and Family Readiness Program. For more information, visit nv.ng.mil under “Wellness and Support” tab.

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