The 103rd Air Control
Squadron deployed

(WTNH) - It is an emotional night for Connecticut members of the 103rd Air Control Squadron. For the fifth time since the terror attacks of September 11th, they are heading to Iraq knowing there is a war to fight and an administration back home that's about to change hands.

Many of these airmen have done this before. The send off ceremony has become routine. The 103rd Air Control Squadron has been mobilized five times in the last seven years. Many of the airmen haven't missed a single deployment.

"We have been deployed five times, I have been deployed five times," Lieutenant Col. Bill Neri, of the 103rd Air Control Squadron, said. "And there are a lot of us that have done that. Last year we were in Qatar, and we have a lot of people here that have been on these trips."

As they stand at attention, and focus on their job in Iraq -- controlling and monitoring military aircraft -- this time it will be different. Next month they will be taking orders from a new commander-in-chief.

"I don't know what to expect," Senior Mst. Sgt. Dan Gregoire, of 103rd Air Control Squadron, said. "Every time I have been over there it's been different. So I'll wait and see until I get there."

President-elect Obama, throughout his campaign, has said that we must start bringing our troops home and end the war. It's something these troops say might become a reality while they are overseas doing their job.

"Part of our mission is to support the goals and objectives of the commander-in-chief, so we are going in with that mind-set and flexibility if things change while we are there we will deal with it," Lt. Col. Neri said.

Right now they are scheduled to be back in Connecticut May or June. But, troop changes would sit just fine with newly weds Dennis and Stephanie Schumey.

"We weren't supposed to get married until 2010," Stephanie Schumey said. "Because of the deployment, we moved it up."