The Deployed FAIP

  • Published
  • By Capt. Justin Herris
  • 48th Flying Training Squadron
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Imagine yourself in a place, where instead of grass there is sand and rock, and instead of green trees there are sticks covered in dust. Finally, replace a nice spring morning with 120 degrees of direct sun light and an incoming dust tsunami. While you may be painting yourself a picture of a fiery hell, a few Columbus Air Force Base First Assignment Instructor Pilots get to experience this wonderland each year while deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan.

In late 2012, Captain Justin Herris, a T-1A Instructor Pilot in the 48th Flying Training Squadron, was told that he would be deploying to a country at war. As a FAIP, Herris began his flying Career in Columbus and had never experienced traveling or living in an overseas country in continuous conflict.

"I knew there would be challenges that I would face while deployed, but many others that I would be leaving behind with my family," said Herris. "Those challenges - that you feel you have no control over - always seem to be the hardest."

With every deployment comes the simple fact that family and friends will be left behind, but Herris said that in a Community that is so connected with Columbus AFB, and from a squadron dedicated to their members, overcoming some of those difficulties was never a problem.

After arriving in Afghanistan, Herris was assigned to work in a non-flying position as Chief of Scheduling for the 361 Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, an MC-12W unit known for their hard work ethic and mission dedication.

"I knew going into this position, that I would be supporting an incredible flying squadron, with aircrew dedicated to the core principles of the Air Force," said Herris.

While some Airman join the military to serve as their family members did before them, Herris had the very unique opportunity to deploy at the same time as his father. In Afghanistan, Justin joined his father, Lt. Col. Robert Herris, who was deployed to fly in an unmanned aircraft squadron.

"I was extremely honored to be serving our country alongside my father, someone I have always looked up to for guidance," said Herris. "Although he was in a different squadron, the overall missions are connected."

For six and a half months, Herris scheduled missions with significant impacts around Afghanistan.

"Everyday these aircrew go out and fly these missions selflessly over hostile and dangerous territory, ensuring that the men and women on the ground have the support they need," said Herris.

Although Herris was not flying, he knew firsthand the dangers the squadron and the Air Base faced while deployed. From base attacks to damaging weather, Herris said that feeling safe was only a matter of how well you were prepared.

During his deployment, Herris and the squadron he worked for where impacted by an even more difficult challenge after an aircraft assigned to their unit crashed, killing all four individuals on board.

"You become so close to everyone while deployed; they really do become your family," said Herris. "Losing anyone out there is like losing a brother or sister and it takes a lot to get through that."

Herris finally returned from Afghanistan last month to a warm Columbus welcome home, from his wife, Brittany Herris, Lt. Col. James Hall, 48th Flying Training Squadron Commander, and many of his friends.

"Coming home was something I thought about every day, so arriving back home to my wife and friends was an incredible experience, one I will never forget," said Herris.

While his journey is still fresh in his mind, Justin said that each and every moment deployed offered some new type of learning experience.

"It was a great opportunity that I would never want to live again, but the lessons that I learned there, are lessons you can only be taught by being in the shoes of someone deployed," said Herris.