An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Tyndall hosts Warrior Farewell for deployers, families

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Joshua Stevens
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The Tyndall Airman and Family Readiness Center sponsored a Team Tyndall Warrior Farewell April 6 at the Heritage Club to honor the 80-plus Airmen soon deploying from the base, as well as offer information to their families.

"The purpose of this is to honor the Airmen and give them a hero's sendoff, because that's exactly what they are," said Master Sgt. Kathleen Mygan, Tyndall AFRC family readiness manager. "It is also, however, an opportunity to honor their families to let them know we care by giving them information from many of the various base agencies."

The agencies represented other than AFRC were Operation Military Kids, Balfour Beatty, the Health and Wellness Center, 325th Civil Engineer Squadron Emergency Management, Family Advocacy, 325th Force Support Squadron, the legal office and the finance office. Refreshments were also provided by the Tyndall Chapel staff.

The farewell opened with the presentation of "Warrior Buttons" to those deploying members in attendance, followed by an invocation by Chaplain Capt. David Black and a speech by Col. Bradley McCoy, 325th Fighter Wing vice commander.

"Deploying is often a bittersweet moment," he said. "The sweet part is you get to be paid to do what you joined to do - something bigger than yourself. The bitter part, though, is what you have to go through when having to leave your family behind."

He encouraged family members to take advantage of all the information being presented to lessen the burden while their deployed family member was away and concluded directly to the deployers by saying, "Go out and represent the U.S. Air Force and the 325 FW in the most professional and best manner you can."

Appreciation of the event was evident in the reactions of deployers present.

"I've always thought these are helpful," said Senior Airman Michelle Harwood, 325th Contracting Squadron contract specialist, deploying to Southwest Asia. "This is my first deployment, and I'm also a single mother. Knowing my commander and squadron are behind me is comforting, and events like this only reinforce that feeling."