Air Force Tech. Sgt. Michael W. Combs has deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, to serve in support of Operation New Dawn, formerly named Operation Iraqi Freedom. The servicemember is regularly assigned to the 52nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.

New Dawn signifies a formal end to U.S. military combat operations in Iraq. The transition shifts the U.S. emphasis from predominantly military to predominately civilian as the U.S. officials assist Iraqis in accordance with the Strategic Framework Agreement.

The three primary missions of U.S. Forces include advising, assisting, and training the Iraqi Security Forces; conducting partnered counterterrorism operations; and providing support to provincial reconstruction teams and civilian partners as they help build Iraq’s civil capacity.

Combs is a specialist section supervisor with 15 years of military service.

He is the son of Susan and stepson of Joseph West of Robert, Mo.

His wife, Kiley, is the daughter of Michael and Linda Carsten of Cape Coral.