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Iraqi Air Force dedication ceremony held at Ali Base

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Darrell Habisch
ALI BASE, Iraq --  An Iraqi dedication ceremony commemorating the construction of a new Iraqi Sector Operations Center was held here April 27, 2010.

Iraq Air Force commander, Staff Lt. Gen. Anwar and Brig. Gen. Scott Hanson, 321st Air Expeditionary Wing commander, officiated at the ceremony.

The sector operations center is the "Foundation of Iraqi Air Defense," one of the first steps in re-building the infrastructure of Iraq's Air Defense capability.

The construction project will give the growing Iraq Air Force long-range radar sight capability throughout southern Iraq.

First Iraqi Contracting Company (FICC), Baghdad, Iraq, was awarded a $5.3M contract to construct an Administrative Building and an Operations Center for the Iraqi Air Force here. The company will also provide the infrastructure for the facility including electrical power generation and water.

Staff Lt. Gen Anwar stated that this is "An historic day for the Iraq Air Force and the Iraqi people. We are thankful to our American partners and proud to protect the Iraqi people."

According to Brig. Gen. Hanson, as the American presence in Iraq draws down and the Iraq Air Force grows, "We will continue to advise and assist our Iraqi partners and stand side by side with them as they gain the capability to secure their airspace."

The generals and distinguished guests used four shovels for the ground-breaking and buried a time-capsule as part of the dedication. Guests were treated to a commemorative cake following the ceremony.

The ceremony included presentations by the Iraq Air Force, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Iraqi distinguished guests.