Air advisors help Iraqi Airmen settle into Ali

Published Nov. 9, 2010
By Staff Sgt. Sanjay Allen
Air Component Coordination Element-Iraq Public Affairs

ALI BASE, Iraq -- Airmen of the Base Transition Team here are rolling up their sleeves and getting their hands dirty to ensure Iraqi airmen have places to work, sleep, eat and play as they continue to move on to Ali Base and assume full responsibility for all operations.

The BTT is part of the Iraq Training and Advisory Mission-Air Force 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, 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."

With help from the BTT, 407th Air Expeditionary Group and the Army's 224th Sustainment Brigade, Squadron 70 -- the first Iraqi flying unit to arrive here -- relocated permanently Oct. 17 from Basra Air Base. The unit is a CH-2000 squadron that conducts intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

Setting the stage for Squadron 70's arrival was the five-man BTT. Through a variety of acquisition channels and by getting their hands dirty moving furniture, painting, cleaning, getting personnel and equipment on base and borrowing heavy equipment to move dirt and debris to prepare facilities for the Iraqis.

The team was able to acquire and formally transfer buildings from the U.S. Air Force and Army to the Iraqis for use as a Morale, Welfare and Recreation Center, dining facility, armory, fuel storage facility, medical clinic and lodging. The team also provided a soccer field. They were also able to secure a hardened aircraft shelter for squadron 70 aircraft. Previously used as office space by the U.S. Navy, the HAS doors, broken and stuck, hadn't been opened in 18 years until the BTT focused their efforts on the facility.

"The BT has been able to add to what the Iraqis started with to make much better facilities," said Lt. Col. Bill Stahl, BTT chief deployed from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., and a native of Lisle, Ill. "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 has 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, BTT communications advisor deployed from the 561st Network Operations Squadron at Peterson AFB. "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 flight line area is where Tech. Sgt. Wes Grigsby, deployed from Shaw AFB, S.C., and hailing from Lafayette, Ga., used his expertise as a civil engineer to work with Ali Base's 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron 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're quick to point out the help received from the 407th AEG and the Army.

"None of this would have happened without a good garrison and a good group here to support us," said Capt. Jimmy Hernandez, BTT deputy chief and logistics lead advisor. "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, 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 advisors 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," said Captain Hernandez, who is deployed from Aviano Air Base, Italy. "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 -- 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.

"You have to put yourself in their shoes and think of how they would do it," said the Brooklyn, N.Y., native. "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 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."

Sq. 70