USF-I Airmen prepare bases for transition

Published March 16, 2011
By Senior Master Sgt. Larry Schneck
9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force - Iraq Public Affairs

BAGHDAD -- On Sept. 1, 2010, Operation New Dawn signaled more than a name change for the U.S. military mission. It ended combat operations and started a focused effort on an evolving relationship with the Government of Iraq and its people.

Air Force civil engineers are playing a key role in that transition to a new, enduring partnership. These Airmen are working within an integrated team, helping prepare facilities and bases for a transition of forces.

"The larger bases we started closing in June 2010," said U.S. Air Force Maj. d'Artagnan de Anda, United States Forces - Iraq basing element lead engineer, deployed from Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. "It takes a minimum of 90 days to close a smaller base."

Major de Anda guides a joint-force team including U.S. Army engineers. They have returned bases to Iraq since the beginning of the reposturing of military units and transitioning to a future mission that will be led by the Department of State.

Since he started his deployment almost a year ago, Major de Anda, a Temecula, Calif. native, has overseen the closure of 80 facilities and installations, with more to follow.

"The basing element team is responsible for the transition of USF-I bases," said U.S. Air Force Col. John Balzano, USF-I director of basing, facilities and environmental. "They oversee the execution of an 85-step process to prepare a base for return to the Government of Iraq."

The pace of a turn-over speeds up once the installation gets within 45 days of the base closure date. The size of the base, the particular infrastructure on the base, and the number of people remaining dictates how long the base transition process actually takes.

Those 85-steps in the process of turning over a base or facility to Iraq includes some large, bulky items to dispose.

Concrete T-walls, which weigh 6 tons and are 12-feet tall, and Jersey barriers are removed and disposed of using a program called the Foreign Excess Personal Property process. A specialized team accounts for these items during the accomplishment of a joint inventory. This takes place before the base is transferred to Iraq. Once the Iraqis receive a base or facility, they can use the T-walls where they are or redirect them for another purpose.

The 116th Cavalry Brigade from the Idaho Army National Guard, headquartered in Boise, Idaho is in the middle of a one-year deployment in support of Operation New Dawn and the transition of U.S. forces.

"We continue to assist with any construction projects related to base protection and base closure as the U.S. military prepares to leave the Iraq theater," said U.S. Army Capt. Marshall Davis, Victory Base Complex Department of Public Works construction officer. "T-walls are continually moved around as the U.S. military repostures and force protection needs change."

In some instances, the Government of Iraq can leave the T-walls in place or reinforce another installation. For one project, the Iraqis took American T-walls and used it to line a 20-mile stretch of railroad in the northern part of the country where blowing sand was a problem covering the train tracks. The Iraqis used the concrete walls to line both sides of the railroad bed and deflect some of the sand.

One way they are doing turn-over planning is getting together, face-to-face with everyone affected.

American engineers have created a series of meetings around Iraq to help plan the reposturing of military forces. The base stakeholders conferences bring together all of the military and civilian leadership on each installation. The dialogue helps establish a road map.

"The basing element team coordinates with the Iraq Receivership Secretariat," said Colonel Balzano. "The secretariat is the sole agency responsible for receiving bases from the American military. When a base transitions back to Iraq, this team of engineers makes sure it happens smoothly and that all U.S. responsibilities are fulfilled."

Followed closely by the meetings is a rehearsal of concept exercise. ROC drills allow the military members responsible for the transition and return of a base to practice and plan the necessary steps to closing the doors and turning over the keys. According to a security agreement between the United States and Iraq, USF-I must return all bases to the Government of Iraq by Dec. 31, 2011.

"We have the complete support from the U.S. ambassador," said Major de Anda. "We have been supporting them heavily as they establish their future, Department of State footprint."