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U. S. Air Force turns over aircraft hangar to Iraqi air force

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Mindy Bloem
  • 506th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
KIRKUK REGIONAL AIR BASE, Iraq --  Members of the Iraq Training and Advisory Mission - U.S. Air Force and the Iraqi air force stood shoulder to shoulder during a ribbon cutting ceremony at Kirkuk Regional Air Base March 10, 2010.

They watched as Brig. Gen. Scott Hanson, 321st Air Expeditionary Wing commander, and Staff Lt. Gen. Anwer Amen, Iraqi air force commander, signed a letter of acceptance and transfer for a newly restored aircraft hangar, ushering in yet another major milestone for the Iraqi air force's Squadrons 1 and 3.

The turning over of the hangar holds significance for the Iraqi air force because it allows them the capability to maintain and house their own aircraft.

"Its completion is one of many large projects the United States has provided to establish the Iraqi air force as a credible, enduring military," said Capt. Jarret Flexman, 321st Mission Support Advisory Squadron Base Support Unit chief, deployed from Hanscom AFB, Mass.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers took on construction of the project in November 2008.

The building is the largest on base and was completely remodeled from the ground up, including repairing all the hangar doors and equipment, rewiring all the electrical work, adding water pumps, air compressors and hoses, and constructing side offices and bathrooms in the hangar.

General Anwer expressed gratitude on behalf of him and his men after viewing the finished product.

"All of the technicians know how important the hangar is to maintaining air force operations," he said through an interpreter. "This will lead the way in advanced and powerful operations conducted daily in regards to our missions. I thank everybody who participated in putting the hangar back on line. Wherever you look, you see all the projects done by the Americans, our partners. We cannot say thank you enough for conducting those missions and projects."

General Hanson took time to speak of the implications of the turnover.

"While this is an empty hangar today, I know all the technicians are looking forward to and can see in their minds the work that will be done here by hundreds of people. The mission of the Iraqi air force - whether it be providing ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance), airlift or precision air to ground attacks - is very important to the security of the country of Iraq.

"I had the opportunity to see that personally, along with your commander, on (Iraqi) Election Day," he added. "Work will be done on airplanes in this facility, and it will be just one piece of the great power that you bring to the Iraqi air force. I'm excited to see this for you all today."

General Anwer gave what he described as fatherly advice to the men in his command.

"I advise my fellow Iraq air force members to use the hangar to the fullest capability, so you can conduct all of the operations successfully," he concluded.