Subscribe
COB ECHO, Iraq — In locales around the world, people often have their special places and hidden gems they consider as "must-sees" whenever they pass through, and Iraq is no different.
With military bases throughout theater, such locations become well-known for different reasons.
Contingency Operating Base Echo is one of those bases, and if you ask any pilot, crewmember or even passenger of the aircraft that pass through daily, it is nearly unanimous why Echo has an excellent reputation among aviators and their customers for the extra effort make to keep them comfortable.
Erin Wahl, from Killeen, Texas, the logistics coordinator for the KBR Air Operations Lounge at COB Echo, said that, as a growing number crew members come through for the lounge's sandwich wraps, they leave behind comments about how they preferred to take their breaks at COB Echo because of the way they are treated.
"Most aircrews say this is their favorite place to stop and we try to have them do as little as possible when they come in," Wahl said.
Wahl, known for her cheerful, welcoming attitude and her pink sweater, pink reflective vest or some form of pink worn at all times, said she runs the aircrew lounge with her supervisor, Sandra Edwards, a fellow Texan who calls Dallas home and works with two Soldiers in the next building over, Cpl. Danny Crenshaw, a La Grange, Ga., native with Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion 15th Infantry Regiment, and Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Carson, also HHC.
Crenshaw and Carson operate the Arrival Departure Aviation Control Group section that handles coordination for those coming and going by aircraft from COB Echo — sort of like a mini airport terminal. Crenshaw works days and Carson handles the night shift.
"We are kind of a team. She is a big help and we work together great," Crenshaw said of the partnership they have with the KBR staff.
Refueling of aircraft takes approximately 20 minutes, as crews are required to shut down for cold fueling, she said. They see about five aircrews a day — approximately 40 per week — though recently there have been more because of the March 7 national elections.
Wahl said she consistently sees more and more crews come through, in no small part due to their breakfast, sandwich wraps, drinks and snacks, not to mention the comfortable environment of the lounge.
She and Edwards have also recently made good friends of the latest unit to rotate into COB Echo: Company A, 2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment.
"I've been here since December, which was good timing since the [new] units rotated in, too. I took over for a guy who had been here for three or four years," Wahl said. "We made space for 2-285th folks for the duration of their assignment here."
Wahl said she was impressed with Company A since they made Echo their home.
"One day it is this, the next day it's that, and they just roll with it. They are really flexible," she said about their mission of transporting passengers and equipment around this part of United States Division-South.
Company A was stationed at al-Kut but relocated a few months ago to COB Echo to continue its mission.
"I don't see them as much now that they are here than when they were away, but we still get them extra wraps. The dining facility folks are really helpful with that," she said. "Even if they don't stop here, we still would bring them wraps, sandwiches and Gatorade."
Whether it is crews from Company A, the Big Red Express crews or Company C, 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment's MEDEVAC Soldiers, the lounge takes care of them all, to include offering them use of their four black leather couches or the Armed Forces Network routed into their lounge.
Wrapping it up, Edwards said good service is all part of the job.
"We are glad we can assist," he said. "Customer service is a high priority for KBR and for us. We want them to be comfortable."
| Date Taken: | 04.02.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 04.02.2010 13:13 |
| Story ID: | 47611 |
| Location: | CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ECHO, IQ |
| Web Views: | 273 |
| Downloads: | 197 |
This work, Base boasts 'hidden gem' in crew lounge, by SFC Christopher DeHart, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
