The gear of an Airman waits to be loaded from Andrews Air Force Base’s Hangar 8, where the deployment ceremony was held Jan. 29.

‘‘Our job is to support those ground troops and commanders in whatever they need, whether it’s delivering ordnance, showing force or supporting our guys on the ground,” said Air Force Capt. Cliff Taylor, an F-16 pilot for the 121st Fighter Squadron. ‘‘As an F-16 pilot, this is what we are trained for, it feels good to be able to do our jobs.”

A brief deployment ceremony took place at the 201st Airlift Squadron’s Hangar 8, where Family members could say goodbye to their loved ones as they prepared to deploy overseas.

One wall was completely adorned with an American flag that stretched from ceiling to floor, the rest of the hangar was filled with chairs and tables. The tables featured water, juice and snacks, as well as toys, coloring books, DVDs and other gifts for the children who were preparing to say goodbye to their parents for the next few months.

‘‘These men and women living in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, who have civilian jobs here, are volunteering to fulfill this duty by deploying,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Timothy Madden of the 121st Fighter Squadron. ‘‘Each person is a volunteer for this mission, and I’m proud to work alongside them.”

Maj. Gen. Errol R. Schwartz, commanding general, Joint Force Headquarters, District of Columbia National Guard, spoke at the ceremony, and he first thanked the Families gathered for giving up their loved ones in service of their country.

‘‘I just want to say thanks to all of you for supporting the 113th Wing,” Schwartz said. ‘‘A special thanks goes out to the Family members ... you make our lives a lot easier, you help us along, you afford us the opportunity to be able to serve. Without you, the men and women going on this mission could not focus on their mission. So again, my thanks goes out to all of you for your support.”

He then turned his attention to the servicemembers who were deploying, expressing his confidence that their skills would go to good use in theater.

‘‘I know the training is tough ... but you were trained to do the job you have to do,” Schwartz said. ‘‘We are here waiting for you to come home. So good luck, be safe and God speed.”

Air Force Brig Gen. Jeffrey R. Johnson, commander of the 113th Wing, expressed similar sentiments in his remarks, thanking those servicemembers who were joining with the 113th Wing for this mission.

‘‘I think all of these folks who came to say goodbye really show how much they care about and support the person who is about to deploy,” Johnson said.

He made a special point that every single man and woman embarking on this deployment did so voluntarily, calling the deployment a ‘‘true team effort.” ‘‘You are deploying as a unit, every one of you, as of today, is a Capital Guardian,” he said, using the nickname of the D.C. National Guardsmen. ‘‘We treat taking care of our fellow Capital Guardians very seriously, including Families.” After Johnson’s remarks, Chap. (Lt. Col.) Stephen Tillett, 113th Wing chaplain, led a recitation of Psalm 23, telling the men and women assembled that God will look out for them in their times of danger. After the prayer, it was farewell time. As names were read off, the Airmen and Guardsmen began to make their way over to the adjacent Hangar 9 for processing and departure. Many Families took the last few minutes for one more embrace, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house, whether it was husbands, wives or children. The servicemembers are deploying for varying amounts of time, some for six weeks, some for 60 days and some for longer than that. While it is painful to be away from Family for any amount of time, Johnson told each of them in his concluding remarks that they had his thanks, and the thanks of a grateful nation for the mission they were about to go on. ‘‘Thank you all for volunteering, thank you folks who are coming from outside to become honorary Capital Guardians,” he said, ‘‘and most of all, to all military members and Families, thank you for your service to this great country.”