JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Lt. Col. Dirk Cain, the group's mission commander, bids farewell to the vice wing commander, Col. Charles Stevenson, before he leaves on deployment. Nearly 100 air guardsmen from across the 176 Wing, mostly from the 176 Maintenance Group and 176 Operations Group, left for Kuwait this week in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. N. Alicia Halla.