Small mission support detachment is part of Air Force history

Courtesy Photo | This group of 34 Airmen from the 586th EMSG Det. 1, are responsible for command and control of the installation, they manage all the base infrastructure, plan and execute all construction and maintenance projects, provide billeting and manage all Army contracts that deal with base support.  

KUWAIT

06.26.2006

Courtesy Story

386th Air Expeditionary Wing

KUWAIT NAVAL BASE, Kuwait " No where in the world can you find Airmen performing their mission in the same type of atmosphere as you can here with Detachment 1 of the 586th Expeditionary Mission Support Group.

These 34 Airmen are running an entire military installation for the Army right on the shores of the Persian Gulf. This is the first unit in the history of the Air Force to perform such a mission.

"I'm very honored to be leading this group of Airmen," said Lt. Col. Tim Henke, 586th EMSG Det. 1 and camp commander. "They have proven that they are not only willing, but very capable to perform a combat support mission and operate a joint base."

The place they operate and maintain for the Army is known as Camp Patriot. It is the only U.S. camp in Kuwait located entirely within the host nation's installation.

Although Camp Patriot is officially an Army installation, more than 75 percent of its permanent party personnel are from the Navy.

"We've really leaned hard on the flexibility of Air Force blue to survive," said Chief Master Sgt. R. Wayne Barron, senior enlisted leader for the 586th EMSG Det. 1 and camp command chief. "Nothing like this has ever been done in the Air Force and it's really a neat opportunity."

This is the second rotation of Airmen to perform this mission at Camp Patriot for the Army. The mission they are performing is known to Soldiers as a Tailored Logistics Element. The detachment includes civil engineer, logistics, mission support and services flights.

"Basically we're like a mini-mission support group," said Capt. Tom Giles, mission support flight commander for the 586th EMSG Det. 1. "We have almost all the same elements as a traditional mission support group but with a lot less people."

The detachment provides command and control of the installation, manages all the base infrastructure, plans and executes all construction and maintenance projects, provides billeting and manages all Army contracts that deal with base support.

"Because the Air Force has focused on becoming more light, lean and lethal since the end of the cold war, we all pride ourselves on living up to the concept of agile combat support, or being able to create, protect, and sustain airpower across the spectrum of operations," Colonel Henke said. "This focus on being agile is serving us well here at Camp Patriot. We've adapted to a new organization that accomplishes a mission none of us saw coming a few years ago " directly supporting the U.S. Army by operating one of their own bases.

"The Air Force culture of continuous improvement is serving our customers here just as well as it does back home," he added.

The first group of Airmen to step up for the Army and run Camp Patriot arrived in August 2005. They really set the groundwork for this team through their "learning on the job."

"Our predecessors made sure we knew what we were getting into as far as manpower needs and things like that," Chief Barron said. "They really made sure we had the right people to do all the jobs that we have to do here."

Camp Patriot is a key strategic installation for Operation Iraqi Freedom. It supports more than 20 different units from all four services and the Coast Guard.

"(This is the) most diverse mission I've seen in my career," Colonel Henke said. "The statement that we're an Air Force unit, running an Army camp, in support of the U.S. Navy, on a Kuwaiti Navy base has become our bumper sticker."

This team of Airmen went through one month of pre-deployment combat skills training at Fort Sill, Okla., before they arrived here for their six-month rotation. One of the goals of the training was for them to become more familiar with "Army speak" and to make the transition to this unique mission easier.

"During our time here we've really had to work to understand and learn things that are unique to the Army," Chief Barron said. "We've really had to learn basically a whole new language."

But Airmen at Camp Patriot believe they have made a difference even with all the various challenges.

"We've done quite a few things to improve the base's infrastructure to include camp security and quality-of-life," said Capt. Drew Clewett, civil engineer flight commander. "One of the larger projects we've accomplished is to replace the calling center, laundry and post office tents with trailers. But you name it and we've done it."

"We came in and right away went to work on the fitness center," said Capt. Dan Giannavola, services flight commander. "Sure we've had some growing pains, but we've overcome them and I think we have a really nice facility for troops to enjoy."

And they're not done yet. Currently the detachment is working on what's known as downtown KNB. The plan is to relocate quality-of-life facilities to make them more accessible to the living quarters.

"It's going to be really nice when it's all done," Captain Giles said. "This place already has a small town feel to it. Everybody knows everybody and everyone is always willing to step up and help whatever the challenge is, but that will just add to it."

Thankfully, their hard work and dedication haven't gone unnoticed either.

"At the end of the day we've improved the quality of life here for everyone," Chief Barron said. "Almost daily troops come up to me from others services and other countries and say thanks."

So while the Air Force's contingency makes up less than one percent of the base populace, their impact is truly felt and seen throughout the installation.

"We've improved the mission capability of this base dramatically since the Air Force stepped into the camp command cell job 10 months ago," Colonel Henke said.

"Some people like to associate the Air Force closely with quality of life issues, but that's just a small part of the overall picture," he added. "It's really a quality of mission support issue (to include) better maintenance, infrastructure, force protection, operating procedures, teamwork and quality of life, which all together, produces better combat capability."

• Date Taken: 06.26.2006
• Date Posted: 06.26.2006 13:21
• Story ID: 6960
• Location: KW