AIRMAN SENATOR

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Col. Lindsey Graham, a Senior Senator from North Carolina, poses with members of the 386th Expeditionary Medical Group in the Contingency Air Medical Staging Facility here on the Rock on April 9, 2007. Col. Graham, a Reserve Judge Advocate, recently spent 2 days in Iraq with Senator John McCain, then another 7 days as a JA with the Multinational Force, Iraq. Col. Graham is holding a copy of the Desert Voice open to an article that was written on the CASF.(AF photo/Staff Sgt. Ian Carrier)

AIRMAN SENATOR

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Col. Lindsey Graham, a Senior Senator from North Carolina, is presented a 386th Expeditionary Medical Group coin by Med. Group Commander Col. Andrew Monteiro in the Contingency Air Medical Staging Facility here on the Rock on April 9, 2007. Col. Graham, a Reserve Judge Advocate, recently spent 2 days in Iraq with Senator John McCain, then another7 days as a JA with the Multinational Force, Iraq. (AF photo/Staff Sgt. Ian Carrier)

AIRMAN SENATOR

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Col. Lindsey Graham, a Senior Senator from North Carolina, greats Master Sgt. Eric Canada, 386th Expeditionary Medical Group, in the Contingency Air Medical Staging Facility here on the Rock on April 9, 2007. Col. Graham, a Reserve Judge Advocate, recently spent 2 days in Iraq with Senator John McCain, then another 7 days as a JA with the Multinational Force, Iraq. (AF photo/Staff Sgt. Ian Carrier)

AIRMAN SENATOR

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Col. Lindsey Graham, a Senior Senator from North Carolina, chats with Command Chief Master Sgt. Thomas Narofsky, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Command Chief, during a briefing int the wing conference room April 9, 2007. Col. Graham, a Reserve Judge Advocate, recently spent 2 days in Iraq with Senator John McCain, then another 7 days as a JA with the Multinational Force, Iraq. (AF photo/Staff Sgt. Ian Carrier)

Air Force Colonel has day job… as U.S. Senator

Published April 10, 2007
By SSgt. Ian Carrier
386 AEW/PA

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Air Force Reserve Col. Lindsey Graham paid a visit to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing on April 9 2007. A Colonel on the Rock is not an unusual sight, to be sure, unless they happen to also be a member of the Senate.

Senior Republican Senator from South Carolina Lindsey Graham flew into the CENTAF Area of Responsibility with fellow Senator John McCain on April 1, spent two days touring Iraq as a Senator, then changed into his DCU's to serve for 7 days on active duty as a Judge Advocate for the Multi National Forces, Iraq. During this stint, the Senator spent a day at Camp Bucca, and got to see members of the 586th and 886th Expeditionary Security Forces in action.

"The security detail at Camp Bucca is the most joint operation I've seen," stated the Colonel. "The challenges the Airmen at Camp Bucca are dealing with are challenges they haven't seen before, and they are dealing with it in a way that makes the military proud. The Air Force Security Forces there are indispensable."

Col. Graham believes the new strategy in Iraq is working. The Air Force personnel at Camp Bucca are working to relieve the pressure in the area and improve the current program in place, which helps the Iraqis to make legal decisions in a more secure environment, according to Col. Graham.

The biggest impression that Col. Graham got across the AOR was how nimble and multi-talented the force is, it is very adaptable and creative; being able to do things that haven't been done before.

While at the Rock, the Col. took the time to visit the 386th Expeditionary Medical Group and the Contingency Air Medical Staging Facility. Servicemembers wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan are flown to the CASF, treated for injuries if necessary, and airlifted to a military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany. If the injuries to the patient are more severe, they are flown to the United States. The Col. lauded the Med. Group members for the job they do and helping to contribute to the outstanding survival rate in the AOR.

Col. Graham, a South Carolina native, attended the University of South Carolina at Columbia and graduated with a B.A. in Psychology in 1977 and from its school of law with a J.D. in1981. He entered the Air Force in 1982 and served on active duty until 1988. Since then he has served in the South Carolina Air National Guard and as a reservist. During the first Gulf War, he served as a Judge Advocate at McIntire Air National Guard Station in Eastover, South Carolina.

Col. Graham was elected to the South Carolina House of representatives in 1992, and to the Senate in 2002. Halfway around the world, the Colonel is still serving his country.

"I'm having the time of my life," said Col. Graham. "I wouldn't trade it for the world."