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Maintenance Airman builds Iraqi ISR mission from ground up

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Alyssa C. Miles
  • U.S. Air Forces Central Public Affairs
AL KUT, Iraq --  To accomplish a mission, sometimes servicemembers must adapt and overcome. 

One Airman here did just that, and his accomplishments will benefit the people of Iraq long after he redeploys. 

Tech. Sgt. Paul Valenzuela originally deployed here from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., on a maintainer billet. However, after reaching Iraq, he found himself as a King Air intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance advisor to the Iraqis at a ground station after his position was rescinded. 

Upon reaching Forward Operating Base Delta here, the sergeant saw work that needed to be done and set forward to accomplish the task. 

"I knew they had an ISR ground station, but no Intel officers," Sergeant Valenzuela explained. "I saw a ground station that needed work, so I contacted the contractors to fix the station and we started doing missions. We went from not having a mission to having the only mission that is running now at Al Kut."
 
However, before the mission could be completely operational, the Iraqis needed to be fully trained on the ins and outs of the ground station. 

"A usual day for a training mission starts between 5 and 6 a.m.," the native of Wichita Falls, Texas, said. "We're training to get these guys up to speed on how to use the ISR and how to incorporate that with the security forces region, border enforcement and the Iraqi army and police. When I first got here, there was only one Iraqi officer who was fully trained on the ground station. Now I have five who can operate and train on the ground station." 

Sergeant Valenzuela feels Iraq is a big country and that the Iraqis have limited resources to spread out to conduct border control. However, the ISR aircraft is able to look at a wide area and give real, live-time coverage of that area. Training on this system is vital, as it will permit the Iraqis to better protect their borders. 

Iraqi air force Lt. Hameed, ISR officer, feels the equipment the Iraqis are using now assists in providing security in Iraq where there previously was none, and is grateful for the Air Force's assistance. 

"Sergeant Valenzuela is a good advisor - he has always given us the support we needed to help us get where we are now," Lieutenant Hameed said. "I feel like I am helping my country to improve ourselves -- supporting our country to stand on its own. I am proud to serve in the Iraqi air force. I think we have a great future." 

As with any story, Sergeant Valenzuela says the best part of his job is the happy ending. 

"The best part is being able to see their progress," Sergeant Valenzuela said. "When I got here, I didn't have anything. Now the ISR mission is taking off. They're building from the ground up. I can tell them something on Monday, and by the next Monday I'll be able see the results. It's really cool to see the development. 

"It's a big-time difference being an aircraft mechanic back in the States, to coming out here doing intelligence, surveillance and working with Intel officers," the sergeant added. "It's a night and day difference, but it's awesome. I wouldn't change it for the world."