Air advisers help Iraqi airmen settle at new base

8 Nov 2010 |

Airmen from the Iraq Training and Advisory Mission-Air Force Base Transition Team assisted the Iraqi air force Squadron 70 -- the first Iraqi flying unit to arrive here -- relocate permanently Oct. 17 from Basra Air Base, Iraq.

The unit is a CH-2000 squadron that conducts intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

The BTT is tasked to advise the Iraqi airmen moving into Ali on setting up operations and support facilities.

"The base transition team acts as a liaison or the go-between with those air expeditionary group members, the Iraqi air force and base membership," said Brig. Gen. Scott Hanson, the ITAM-AF director and 321st Air Expeditionary Wing commander. "They're able to communicate the needs of the Iraqis back and forth to base agencies to provide support. So while the group commanders are operating the airfield and providing mission support to keep the base open and functioning, they also have some resident capability to provide mentorship to the Iraqi air force, as they grow those skills on a base."

The five-person team was able to acquire and formally transfer buildings from the Air Force and Army to the Iraqis for use as a recreation center, dining facility, armory, fuel storage facility, medical clinic, lodging facility. The team also provided a soccer field and a hardened aircraft shelter for squadron 70 aircraft.

"The BTT has been able to add to what the Iraqis started with to make much better facilities," said Lt. Col. Bill Stahl, the BTT chief. "With the help of the garrison and Air Force teams here, my team was able to find what the Iraqis needed and have it shipped here and put it in place. My team has done an excellent job preparing for the Iraqi squadron arrival. I'm very proud of them."

Under the Foreign Excess Property Program, ITAM-AF logistics officers have reviewed lists of excess property from all closing U.S. installations. As equipment for Ali Base, and other Iraqi bases, was identified, ITAM-AF logistics teams arranged for the equipment to be shipped to Ali Base. Equipment ranged from beds and desks to MWR and dining facility materials and more.

"We prepared just about everything, from living quarters to the facilities they're going to be working out of," said Tech. Sgt. Paul Kinsey, a BTT communications adviser. "Moving a lot of debris away from the hangar and making it a safe environment for the aircraft to operate in was one of the bigger projects."

Preparing the flightline area is where Tech. Sgt. Wes Grigsby used his expertise as a civil engineer to work with the 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron members to use their heavy equipment to clear the apron and move large debris.

The five Airmen of the BTT couldn't do everything on their own; they received help from 407th Air Expeditionary Group Airmen and 224th Sustainment Brigade Soldiers.

"None of this would have happened without a good garrison and a good group here to support us," said Capt. Jimmy Hernandez, the BTT deputy chief and logistics lead adviser. "That's a good example of working with the joint team to ensure the mission succeeds."

With the help of the garrison and the group, the team was able to acquire the buildings, supplies, furniture, land and heavy machinery needed to prepare for the Iraqi air force arrival and eventual transfer of the base from U.S. to Iraqi responsibility.

"We have the ability to support the BTT during the transition of the Air Force or Army facilities to the Iraqi air force," said Capt. Robert Loniewsky, the 407th ECES flight commander. "We'll make those transitions ensuring the Iraqis will have the facilities they'll be able to operate out of for operations, maintenance or whatever they need to do."

In addition to facility preparation, the air advisers of the BTT also partner with their Iraqi counterparts on bed down, sustainment and security to ensure Iraqi self-sufficiency after U.S. Forces depart the base and Iraq by the end of 2011.

"We will provide training for all those missions," Captain Hernandez said. "Our focus right now is the bed down of Squadron 70. Sustainment will include water sourcing, water purification, fuel deliveries and eventually the flying operations and everything related, (such as) civil engineering, security forces, contracting and the core competencies that you need to sustain the base."

Preparing the base for its new residents comes with challenges that stem from a different culture and language challenges, Captain Hernandez said.

"You have to put yourself in their shoes and think of how they would do it," he said. "So that gives you a different perspective and a different appreciation of what we have and what they have. What we want to do is mesh those two (concepts) together to make sure we work together as a team to perform as efficiently and effectively as we can."

The challenge is rewarding. Captain Hernandez said he enjoys knowing his efforts have resulted in action that has helped the Iraqi air force.

"To me, the best thing about the base transition team is that you can see a direct impact on another air force with your service here at this base," he said."Building up their air force is not an easy thing. It's very challenging but everybody wants to see them succeed."