Courtesy Photo | ALI BASE, Iraq - Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne congratulates members of...... read more read more
By Tech. Sgt. Paul Dean
407th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
ALI BASE, Iraq --It wasn't criterion used in planning the agenda, but every stop on Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne's visit here Monday inspired him to comment on the cohesive nature of efforts and accomplishments of the people deployed here.
It was the partnerships and ad hoc teams tackling enormous tasks, delivering magnificent results and feeding off each others" experience, success and diversity that were so impressive to the Secretary.
"Ali Base truly represents the total force in action," said Secretary Wynne. "This is truly about jointness, the Coalition, and working with your brethren in the other services. [The Air Force] is really forming up to do business in the 21st Century and it all starts with [the Airmen] here."
The Secretary met with the Col Samir, commander of the Iraqi air force's Squadron 23 (Transport) "labeled 'the greatest success story in the training of the Iraqi air force" by Maj. Gen. Allen Peck, deputy combined forces air component commander, who accompanied the Secretary. At the squadron the Secretary learned about the cooperative successes between American and Iraqi's in moving toward returning Iraqi sovereign skies back into the hands of Iraqi's.
Colonel Samir (full names and faces of Iraqi air force members are non-releasable) described the relationship between the Iraqi air force members and Airmen from the 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron Advisory Support team as one like brothers.
The Iraqi commander continued with praise for the Airmen who helped the Iraqi air force's Squadron 23 (Transport) reach milestone just weeks ago when the squadron maintained, launched and flew an Iraqi C-130 without advisory support team assistance Nov. 29. Secretary Wynne added his praise for the efforts of all participants.
"Our differences are melting away," Secretary Wynne told the colonel and the Airmen of the 777th EAS. "I give credit to [the colonel and his men] for stepping up and am very proud of the [advisory support team]. You have made everybody proud."
Secretary Wynne freely shared the pride he feels toward the men and women of the Air Force with several groups of deployed Airmen.
He met and praised ground maintenance, aircraft maintenance, security forces, aircrew and civil engineer Airmen and confirmed their impact and the contributions of air power and its support functions to the War on Terrorism.
"I'm here to pass along the pride of three groups: the people of Afghanistan, Iraq and those back home in the Unites States. We are all behind you," the Secretary said.
Although timing for AEF 7/8 has meant being away from home for several widely recognized holidays, Secretary Wynne reminded Airmen of the things they will take from the experience.
"You have been here for what I call the "miracle in Southwest Asia." Look at all of the things that have happened [in Iraq] during your rotation," he said, referring to the constitutional referendum, the general election, and the first all-Iraqi solo flight that originated at Ali and was a result of training conducted here.
"One day historians will be looking around asking what happened here during this time, and you are the ones who will be able to tell them.
"Your time here will go down in history. You have done great things in this country that we have helped bring freedom to."
Before leaving Ali Base, Secretary Wynne toured the Ziggurat of Ur and shared tea with the Iraqi curator.
It was the icing on the cake and a fitting end to a day the Secretary described as "incredible."
| Date Taken: | 12.21.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 12.21.2005 11:23 |
| Story ID: | 4159 |
| Location: | ALI BASE, IQ |
| Web Views: | 214 |
| Downloads: | 106 |
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