Awards and Closing Ceremonies for the 169th Fighter Wing personnel and augmentees from various units deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq

Awards and Closing Ceremonies for the 169th Fighter Wing personnel and augmentees from various units deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq held on August 19, 2010, followed by a mass group photo. Members from various units, with their expertise in the Block 30 F-16, deployed to JBB with the 169th Fighter Wing from McEntire to cover an Air Expeditionary Force deployment utilizing Block 52 and Block 30 jets. The 169th Fighter Wing sent F-16?s, pilots, maintenance specialists, and support personnel overseas for its first major combat operation since 2003, when the unit deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom and flew more than 400 combat missions. The 169 FW is now an "Active Associate" wing. This unique agreement with the 20 FW at Shaw AFB embeds 150 active duty Airmen with the 169 FW at McEntire to forge an even stronger, more mobile force. Elements of the South Carolina Air National Guard's 169 FW began this historic deployment in early May 2010 when airmen landed at JBB in support of OIF. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Caycee Cook)