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Kandahar celebrates Air Force birthday

  • Published
  • By Capt. Brian Maguire
  • 451st Air Expeditionary Wing
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  Airmen from across Kandahar Airfield gathered at Camp Davis here to celebrate the 66th birthday of the United States Air Force.

Following several sporting events at the Kandahar Boardwalk, the Airmen gathered to remember and honor the great strides taken since the founding of the Air Force.

"If you take a look at where we started from 66 years ago, to where we are now, it's incredible and you've all been a part of it," said. Brig. Gen. John Dolan, 451st Air Expeditionary Wing commander. "We can walk into any operation across this globe, and we can get the job done."

Following the opening comments and a moment to remember the prisoners of war and missing in action, two Airmen recited notable moments in Air Force history. The commander picked up on the history theme by highlighting the Airmen that tied those events together.

"We do all of this through our Airmen, not only through active duty, but our Guard and Reserve Airmen - our Total Force," Dolan said. "While speaking with a Guard Airmen this morning, I asked him what it was like to work with so many active duty. His response was 'it's no different.' That is a testament to how we grew up as Airmen."

Following Dolan's comments, the youngest and oldest Airmen at KAF cut a birthday cake, along with Dolan. Col. (Dr.) David Geyer, 451st AEW Surgeon General and deployed from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo., and Airman 1st Class Adam Piguet, 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and deployed from the 138th Fighter Wing, Oklahoma Air National Guard, were responsible for cutting the cake.

When asked why he joined the Air National Guard, the Claremore, Okla., native Piguet said "All the different benefits available, and I've always wanted to serve since my family's also served."

Following the cake cutting, the assembled Airmen recited the Airmen's Creed and sang the Air Force song before enjoying some snacks and checking out the different equipment Airmen use to accomplish the mission in Afghanistan.

"You take a look at all the technology, some it's with pure elements of steel and iron to protect, and some of it relies on things we can't see: ones and zeros, frequencies, UHF, VHF, FM..." Dolan said. "But it takes people to run that technology - there is no value in that technology without the Airmen."