Hawaii Air National Guard unit deploys to U.S. Centcom area of responsibility

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Orlando Corpuz
  • 154th Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii --  More than 40 members of the Hawaii Air National Guard's 154th Security Forces Squadron are deploying to the U.S. Central Command's Area of Responsibility (CENTCOM AOR) for a six month deployment.  The majority of the deploying airmen departed Hawaii this past Friday night.  

The HIANG airmen will provide base and perimeter security as well as fly-away security teams during the deployment.

For several of the HIANG airmen, this will be their sixth deployment since the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Although this is the fifth unit mobilization for the 154th Security Forces Squadron since 9-11, there have been small teams of HIANG security personnel deploying to the CENTCOM AOR every year since 2002. 

"We're proud of our Hawaiian Warriors and they will always be kept in their thoughts and prayers." said, Chief Master Sergeant Ray Duropan, 154th Security Forces Manager. "They are not alone, the entire Hawaii Air National Guard are posed to assist back at the home front."

The CENTCOM AOR encompasses the area of Southwest Asia and most of the Middle East.  Due to operational security reasons and host nation sensitivities, the Hawaii National Guard is not disclosing the country where the airmen will be deployed. 

The 154th Security Forces Squadron is part of the 154th Wing, the largest Air National Guard wing in the nation.  The 154th Wing flies and maintains F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft, KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft and C-17 Globemaster III transports.   The Hawaii Air National Guard is comprised of approximately 2,500 airmen whose federal mission is to be trained and available for active duty operational missions.  Its state mission is to be trained and available for domestic operations at home, including relief and recovery operations following a natural disaster.