Hardrockers deploy to Southwest Asia Published Sept. 10, 2008 By Airman 1st Class Samantha S. Crane 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Approximately 140 Airmen from the 726th Air Control Squadron and more than 40 members of the Puerto Rico and Oregon Air National Guards deployed to Southwest Asia Sept. 9 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This marks the fourth deployment in four years for the 726th ACS. "Our main goal is to make sure everybody comes back safe and we perform our assigned mission," said Senior Master Sgt. Leonardo Rodriguez, 726th ACS operations superintendent, who will be deploying for his third time with the squadron. That mission, while differing slightly from their home-station mission, will essentially be the same. "We control the aircraft flying in our area of responsibility," said Sergeant Rodriguez. "Here, we primarily work air-to-air missions for the fighter squadrons, but when deployed, we work more air-to-ground missions in support of the army." Air control squadrons like the 726th ACS serve as primary ground radar elements of the Air Force's theater air control system. They provide air defense and airspace control over the battlefield by keeping track of U.S. and coalition fighter, bomber, surveillance and support aircraft in the region. Unlike most Air Force units that rely on outside units for support, the Hardrockers deploy as a self-sufficient combat unit capable of packing up their bags and setting up virtually anywhere. "We're going to be controlling aircraft in the most congested airspace in the world safely and expertly to ensure bombs are on target on time to support our Army brethren on the ground," said Lt. Col. Bryan Gates, 726th ACS commander. The Idaho Veteran's Resource Network provided deployers with breakfast, snacks for the plane and free DVDs the morning of their departure. "We are a non-profit, all-volunteer organization set up in 2006 to support veterans from Idaho," said Pat Gore, member of the VRN. Along with a farewell, the VRN also supplies deployers with care packages and a welcome home greeting when they can. "We do whatever we can to assist them and their families," said Mrs. Gore.