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Vocational students impressed by American military

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Carolyn Viss
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan --  Sparks flew Feb. 13 when 20 students from the Jeni Jehr Vocational School, Kyrgyzstan, visited the Transit Center at Manas. The installation metals shop was demonstrating welding, and the sparks and blue heat caused quite a stir among the young visitors.

These students were touring the 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron to see how Airmen conduct military operations here, and were surprised to find out that it's much different than a war movie.

"This is my first time [at the Transit Center]," said Adburoimov Maksud, age 19, who is studying architecture and agriculture at the Jeni Jehr school. "I really like the place, it's like a big city."

He was amazed by the size of the tents that house U.S. and coalition forces who are in transit to and from Afghanistan.

Maksud and his class mate, Seitbelov Altinbek, age 20, had the idea that the American military all carry guns and only fight the war - they had no idea Airmen do "normal" jobs like paving roads, erecting structures, and wiring electrical systems.

"I have never seen how to do welding," Maksud said. Both young men agreed the Dirt Boyz' heavy machinery was amazing and they want to learn to operate some of the heavy-duty vehicles.

"I think it's great that two countries can work together like this," said Brian Godwin, 376th ECES structures foreman who helped host the tour.

Azat Suerkulov, one of the welders in his shop is a local Kyrgyz man who learned his trade at the Jeni Jehr school before coming to work at the Transit Center. Now he gets to show people from his country how to do it the Air Force way: by the book, safely, and with lasting results.

"We're not hiding anything," Godwin said. "There are a lot of misconceptions about the Transit Center, but the more we show them what goes on, the more they'll understand."

Indeed, the students are eager to return.

"If this event will happen more often, we can cooperate and share new experiences," Altinbek said.