Base stands up to support Iraq transition

Photo By Jeffrey Allen | Airmen assigned to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Group carry their bags to their lodging rooms after arriving at a base in Southwest Asia in the middle of the night on Aug. 31, 2011. The airmen a part of a group that deployed to support Operation New Dawn.  

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

09.04.2011

Story by Staff Sgt. David Salanitri 

United States Air Forces Central       

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION - As U.S. Forces-Iraq continues its transition, airmen at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia are prepared to receive personnel and equipment that was previously in Iraq.

With U.S. service members and multiple flying squadrons expected to pull fully out of Iraq by late December, the U.S. Air Force has created a home for some of these units, which were once part of the busiest fighting in Iraq.

"We are here to provide continuous air coverage of forces pulling out of Iraq," said Lt. Col. Adam Shirriff, 332nd Air Expeditionary Group deputy commander and native of San Antonio. "Our goal is to support a smooth transition as forces withdraw."

Eleven days after the first airmen arrived to standup the U.S. component of the installation, the base took in its first U.S. aircraft.

Though the manpower here started out small, the airmen more than made up for their quantity of workers by their quality of work. Pre-advanced teams arrived weeks ago in order to set up the necessary sections to get the base started.

"We arrived here only weeks ago, and we're already able to land planes and bring in personnel," said Shirriff. "The pre-advon teams arrived here in order to get the base prepared for follow-on forces to arrive. Now that the initial forces are here and things are setup, conventional forces will soon be able to take over."

The members of the pre-advanced teams couldn't have done it alone. The standup of this location was a team effort, which included its neighbors.

"Within 12 hours we increased our capabilities by 100 percent," said Senior Master Sgt. Joe Walsh, fire chief here and a native of the Bronx borough of New York City. "Firefighters from a nearby base volunteered some manpower along with the proper fire gear that allows for us to fight fires in low oxygen areas, including inside aircraft. One team, one fight has been the theme."

The standup of this base is unique. Unlike setting up at a bare location, there has been a military presence here. "When I first saw the dining facility that I was supposed to set up, the building had nearly a half an inch of dirt and sand in it. Critters were running around in here," said Tech. Sgt. Reginald Morrison, command food services manager for U.S. Air Forces Central Command and native of Fayetteville, N.C. "Within four days, we took this place and had it ready for service. My goal is that when our follow-on forces arrive, they won't be able to tell how this place looked before we got here."

Taking a walk around base, you'll see evidence of a base that once had life in it. A pool that once was full of water, is now dry and, full of beetles and sand. The roads are lined with t-walls which served as the canvas for previous squadrons to paint their legacy on.

"We're standing up a base that used to thrive," said Shirriff. "The buildings are dirty, but the infrastructures are robust and allows for us to bed down people in a short amount of time.

"By standing this base up, we're providing stability across Iraq while at the same time providing continuous air coverage."

As the transition of airmen in Iraq continues throughout the remainder of the year, the base will serve an important role in the months to come.

• Date Taken: 09.04.2011
• Date Posted: 09.05.2011 06:19
• Story ID: 76451
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)