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Transit Center in Kyrgyzstan begins closing doors

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Travis Edwards
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan --  With the conclusion of all four mission pillars here, the Transit Center started a new mission in March: closure.

Refueling is finished, cargo and personnel airlift into the Afghan theater is done and the Theater Security Cooperation division is deactivated; all making way for Airmen on base to focus on a safe and swift closure and transfer of the base to the lease owners.

"I'm really looking forward to watching the team in action," said Col. John C. Millard, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing commander. "I have full confidence in their ability and I think we have a great plan to go forward."

The great plan calls for Airmen to leave the Transit Center as soon as they aren't needed. "Work yourself out of a job," the commander said, reminding everyone to be safe while packing up.

The lack of transients here is a sign that closure is real and the once the busiest "resort" in the world will be no more. At its peak, the Transit Center could be filled with thousands of service members who were either on their way into Afghanistan or ready to go back home.

But, since the Kyrgyz parliament voted to end the U.S. lease of the Transit Center in 2013, U.S. military personnel must depart the TCM by July 10, 2014.

Millard added that although July 10, is the last official day U.S. service members can be stationed at Manas, he plans to have his "Liberandos" home as soon as they aren't needed here.