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Manas Air Base hosts congressional delegation

  • Published
  • By Maj. Damien Pickart
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
MANAS AIR BASE, KYRGYZ REPUBLIC --  A congressional delegation consisting of five U.S. senators visited with Airmen from the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing and toured the base, Aug. 5, as a part of an eight-day trip to promote security, democracy and development in central Asia.

Led by U.S. Senate majority leader Harry Reid of Nevada, the delegation included senators Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, Bill Nelson of Florida, Johnny Isakson of Georgia and Robert Menendez of New Jersey.

The delegation was greeted by wing leadership and U.S. Embassy representatives late Aug. 4 before spending the evening in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek. The following day, they returned for a tour of the base and a luncheon with Airmen from their respective home states.

"It was such a privilege to meet the senator of the state in which I'm currently stationed," said Senior Airman Oleksandra Manko, a linguist with the wing's Coalition Coordination Liaison office who is currently deployed from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. "I just earned my citizenship two years ago after emigrating from the Ukraine and now I'm in the Air Force, deployed to Kyrgyzstan and I get to meet Sen. Reid. It's all pretty remarkable."

During their visit, the congressmen toured several facilities around Manas, including the passenger terminal, KC-135 operations, the new base hospital, dormitories and several morale facilities to include the gymnasium and Pete's Place. They also received a mission briefing about one of the wing's primary missions - Warrior Care.

"The senators really enjoyed hearing about our Warrior Care mission, which is about taking care of Coalition and U.S. forces transiting in and out of Afhganistan," said Col. Christopher Bence, 376th AEW commander. "Providing a high standard of lodging, food and comfort and morale for these warriors is not only our responsibility - it is a privilege."

Following their tour and briefing, the senators enjoyed lunch with Airmen both native to their home states and stationed at bases there.

"Meeting and talking over lunch with Sen. Nelson was very informative," said Master Sgt. Patricia Vandergrift, a Hudson, Fla., native and the superintendent of the Manas expeditionary theater distribution center. "He shared with us what was going on back in Florida, including efforts to keep urban sprawl in check in Pascoe County, where I'm from. It was really interesting to hear about his experience in space aboard a shuttle mission and his commitment to our country's space program. He said the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen was the Earth out of the shuttle window."
Before departing, Sen. Reid pointed out to wing leadership how impressed he was with the professionalism and caliber of Airmen deployed to Manas and how much he enjoyed meeting with them.

"Our courageous troops here in Kyrgyzstan are helping combat terrorism and keep Americans safe," said Sen. Reid. "I am very proud of all of our men and women who serve in the Armed Forces. We know how important our country's air base at Manas is to democracy and security, and I commend our troops for their service."