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732nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron inactivates, leaves proud legacy

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. William Clark
  • 732nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq --  The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Joint Base Balad, Iraq passed another milestone as the 732nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron officially inactivated June 3, 2010. The squadron was activated March 2, 2004, at what was then Balad Air Base, under the 732nd Expeditionary Mission Support Group, which was later designated the 732nd Air Expeditionary Group.

The original squadron consisted of approximately 450 Airmen who executed convoy escort, fuel operations and vehicle maintenance missions. Almost daily, the squadron was engaged in contact with insurgent forces. Airmen assigned to the unit earned multiple Bronze Star Medals, several with V devices for valor and more than 80 were wounded in action. The unit also suffered the loss of two Airmen in combat. Staff Sgt. Dustin Peters was killed July 11, 2004, near Bayji, Iraq, and Airman 1st Class Carl Anderson was killed August 29, 2004, near Mosul. Both were killed when their vehicles were attacked by improvised explosive devices. Camp Anderson-Peters, an Air Force combat training facility in southern Texas, is named in honor of these fallen Airmen.

Between 2004 and 2006, the unit executed more than 5,000 convoy escort missions totaling four million miles and upgraded the armor of more than 1,300 vehicles.

In early 2006, the convoy escort mission ended, but the squadron continued to support joint expeditionary tasked missions throughout Iraq. In addition to supporting Army logistics missions such as movement control teams and redistribution property assistance teams, the 732nd ELRS Airmen played an integral part in shaping a new Iraq by serving as trainers and advisors to various Iraqi government ministries and the Iraqi Army. They helped develop personnel, budget, procurement and logistics systems at all levels of the Iraqi Army, and provided advisors to 15 Iraqi Army bases and Iraqi Special Operations Forces.

Among other accomplishments, they've been responsible for the shipment of more than 20,000 vehicles, the movement of more than 400,000 passengers on rotary and fixed wing aircraft and the successful completion of more than 500 combat logistics patrols. At its peak, this diverse unit supported 12 different Joint Expeditionary Task missions, with Airmen from 35 different Air force specialty codes at more than 40 operating locations throughout Iraq.

Although the 732 ELS inactivated this month, the JET missions will continue. Nearly 250 Airmen will roll under the 732nd Expeditionary Support Squadron.