Photo By Cpl. Daniel Eddy | Brig. Gen. Anthony J. Rock speaks to service members and Iraq dignities Jan. 6 after...... read more read more
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BAGHDAD — Brig. Gen. Anthony J. Rock assumed command of the 321st Air Expeditionary Wing Jan. 6 during a ceremony at Victory Base Complex, Iraq. Rock is the commanding general for the Iraqi Training and Advisory Mission - Air Force, United States Forces – Iraq.
During a congregation of service members and Iraqi dignitaries, Brig. Gen. Scott M. Hanson relinquished command of the 321st AEW after a year of being its commander.
The year was marked with progress, as Iraqi and U.S. airmen worked together to strengthen the Iraqi Air Force.
“This honor has been among the most rewarding of my military career,” Hanson said. “I’ve witnessed firsthand, great leaders … whose courage, patriotism and determination bring the reality of a safe and secure nation for the people of Iraq closer each and every day. Your sacrifices and determination have been inspirational. It has been my privilege to have been part of the team whose training and advising support for the Iraqi Air Force has helped with their astonishing growth and development.”
The IQAF helped with the goal of a more stable and sovereign Iraq, along side Hanson and U.S. forces.
Hanson said this year the IQAF also started to expand operational support to the Navy, the Iraqi Police and the special operations forces in Iraq.
Hanson said they increased operational capabilities and their fleet of aircraft by about 30 percent.
The IQAF planned and increased operations to assist in support of the national elections in March 2009, Hanson said. The IQAF provided aerial intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, airlift and armored overwatch at polling stations to provide safety and security for 11.5 million voters in Iraq.
Hanson said the IQAF took big steps in national elections. As the IQAF was planning the mission, planners started looking at the scope of the event, and realized they would have to bring in other elements including operations, logistics, communications and intelligence in order to best support the people across Iraq.
“I was in their air operations center with their director, and as their last aircraft landed in a city far away. They logged the total of aircraft, they looked around the room and they understood the significance of the mission they had just finished and they realized their airpower was now supporting the people of Iraq, in the ways that it had not done before,” Hanson said, recalling the night of the election. “That’s what was special for me.”
Hanson said the U.S. Air Force chose exactly the right officer in Rock, who is a great leader and has the perfect background to prepare him for the tasks ahead.
Rock is taking over the mission to mentor, train and advise the IQAF. He will be helping advance its airpower capabilities, including command-and-control, precision strike, battlefield mobility, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and basic air defenses.
“It is clear the Iraqi Air Force has developed an exceptional capability for the nation and will work hand-in-hand with the ground forces,” Rock said. “We must strive daily to ensure this progress continues and never let up in our efforts. It is just as clear that the best path for our nations is to work together to achieve this goal. We must, can and will work side-by-side to ensure a brighter future and we will reach new heights for our air forces.”
After the ceremony was complete, Iraqis talked to Hanson and gave him parting gifts, indicative of the bond formed over the past year.
“Today culminated a year of serving in Iraq, and not only was the command a special command, but it was an opportunity to help the Iraqi Air Force rebuild to a place where they are able to provide safety and security for the people of Iraq,” Hanson said. “That was probably the most rewarding part of this assignment; making friendships and relationships with senior Iraqi leaders and squadron commanders—down to the youngest lieutenants—was incredible. I know that I have formed some lifelong relationships here and I look forward to continuing with those partnerships in the years ahead.”
| Date Taken: | 01.06.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 01.13.2011 06:43 |
| Story ID: | 63460 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 124 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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