Air Force bids farewell to Ali Air Base

Photo By Spc. Andrew Slovensky | Iraqi Brig. Gen. Abdul Hakeem, Imam Ali Air Base Commander, discusses his experience working with the Iraqi Training and Advisory Mission – Air at the Ali Air Base headquarters on Contingency Operating Base Adder, Nov. 5.  

TALLIL, IRAQ

11.11.2011

Story by Pvt. Andrew Slovensky 

362nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

CONTINGENY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq – Service members are redeploying from Iraq in a historic drawdown of U.S. forces. Airmen of the Iraqi Training and Advisory Mission – Air must prepare to tell their Iraqi counterparts farewell.

When U.S. troops turn over COB Adder, it will become an Iraqi air force post, Imam Ali Air Base. The ITAM-A director, Air Force Maj. Gen. Anthony Rock, paid one last visit to the Iraqi airmen on Contingency Operating Base Adder, Nov. 5.

The airmen of ITAM-A responsibilities are training the Iraqi air force and army aviation command to prepare them for the departure of U.S. troops from Iraq. “We’re honored to have had that opportunity to work with the Iraqi air force and army aviation command,” said Rock.

Rock said that the mission was to train the Iraqi airmen and soldiers in more than just operating and maintaining the aircraft.
“It’s about producing power, making sure your medics are ready to take care of your airmen, making sure your runway is taken care of, making sure you can see your airspace through radar control,” said Rock.

Now that the mission is coming to a close, the Iraqis will take on the responsibility of six bases; Taji, Kirkut, Tikrit, Balad, al-Asad, and Imam Ali Air Bases will be transferred to the Iraqi air force and army air command, said Rock. “When you think about all of those facilities, all of those runway surfaces, all of those buildings, all of that equipment that is being processed back to the Iraqi air force and army aviation command,” he said. “It’s a lot to take on for a small organization.”

The Iraqi forces were ready for the challenge, said Rock. “We’ve seen a great amount of progress,” said Rock. “The 300 air advisors that I led as part of ITAM-Air were really just the capstone on thousands that have come before us in the seven years we’ve been at this.”

In addition to a new state-of-the-art radar facility, Imam Ali Air Base will be the home of a squadron of F-16 military fighter jets purchased by the government of Iraq from the U.S., said Iraqi Brig. Gen. Abdul Hakeem, Imam Ali Air Base commander. He added that by the end of the year, his wing will take full responsibility for the base.

Hakeem said that he appreciates the sacrifice U.S. service members and their families made during deployments to Iraq. “The Americans every time surprise me [with] support for the Iraqi air force,” he said. “I say thank you, thank you for all the families in the United States.”

Rock said he has high hopes for the future of Iraqi airmen. “My big dream is that someday I will see an Iraqi F-16 on the ramp at Nellis Air Force Base, and there will be an Iraqi mechanic working on that Iraqi F-16,” said Rock. “And out will walk an Iraqi fighter pilot, and he, or perhaps even she, someday, will crawl into the cockpit and go fly their first sortie at the Red Flag exercise Nellis Air Force Base.”

When U.S. forces leave Iraq, COB Adder and bases like it are turning over to Iraqi Security Forces. The airmen of ITAM-A will leave the nest, and Imam Ali Air Base will become a strategic post to help the Iraqi airmen and soldiers defend their airspace and sovereignty.

• Date Taken: 11.11.2011
• Date Posted: 11.11.2011 06:57
• Story ID: 79893
• Location: TALLIL, IQ