Electric power production Airmen from the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron disassemble a mobile aircraft arresting system on the flightline of Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Oct. 15, 2011. JB Balad has disassembled units, turned in equipment and shut down services to transition the base to the Iraqi government. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)
Electric power production Airmen from the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron disassemble the anchor plates of a mobile aircraft arresting system on the flightline of Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Oct. 15, 2011. In accordance with a 2008 security agreement between the U.S. and Iraq, JB Balad was transitioned to the government of Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)
Vehicle maintainers inspect turned-in vehicles at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Oct. 15, 2011. More than 1,000 vehicles were inspected and redistributed as part of JB Balad’s closure. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)
Army Spc. Marisol Landin, right, a health care specialist, Staff Sgt. Christopher Middlebrooks, left, a laundry and showers NCO, and Spc. Theodore Gigrich, a wheeled vehicle mechanic, organize boxes of food at the dining facility at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Oct. 15, 2011. With the release of food services contractors, Airmen and Soldiers joined together at the dining facility to feed the troops during the closure of JB Balad. Landin and Gigrich are deployed from Fort Hood, Texas. Middlebrooks is deployed from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)
Master Sgt. Melody Goitom, a dining facility manager, prepares food at the dining facility at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Oct. 15, 2011. With the release of food services contractors, Airmen and Soldiers joined together at the dining facility to feed the troops during the closure of JB Balad. Goitom is deployed from Misawa Air Base, Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)
Senior Airman Roxanne Chambers, a 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing cyber transporter, takes inventory of turned-in flat panel monitors at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Oct. 15, 2011. Chambers is deployed from the 232nd Combat Communications Squadron with the Alabama Air National Guard in Montgomery. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)
Airmen of the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron take down a T-wall from the hospital at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Oct. 15, 2011. JB Balad has disassembled units, turned in equipment and shut down services to transition the base to the Iraqi government. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)
by Senior Airman Chuck Broadway
9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force/Air Component Coordination Element-Iraq Public Affairs
11/14/2011 - JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq (AFNS) -- What was once a bustling hub for U.S. operations in Iraq has now transitioned into a quiet and empty shell of its former self.
In accordance with a 2008 security agreement between the U.S. and Iraq, Joint Base Balad was transitioned to the government of Iraq and the U.S. military presence has vanished.
Brig. Gen. Kurt Neubauer, the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing commander, said he was extremely satisfied with the work Airmen at JB Balad have done with transitioning the base while maintaining operations until the final days.
"I'm most proud of the way our Airmen at the 332nd AEW rose to the challenge of dealing with combat operations while simultaneously being agile enough to thin out capabilities," Neubauer said. "We've turned JB Balad over to the Iraqis in good working order and that was inspirational."
The transition was an eight-month operation that included many base entities.
"The closure has created a supportive mission between squadrons," said Lt. Col. Terry Walter, the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron commander. "You can't take any piece of the base away without affecting another part of the mission."
As part of the transition, the 332nd ECES moved more than 400 short tons of generators and construction equipment. More than 1,000 vehicles and 12,000 pieces of computer equipment were also redistributed.
"This was a centerpiece to the transition out of Balad," said 1st Lt. Nate Kane, the 332nd Expeditionary Communications Squadron officer in charge of transition logistics. "All the pieces of equipment that made the communications footprint function transitioned through here."
Kane said equipment such as computers, printers, scanners, monitors and telephones were all sent to other U.S. Central Command installations for further use.
In addition to redistributing communications equipment, JB Balad Airmen at the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron processed all vehicles on base as part of the transition.
"Like any other equipment, the base cannot transition without these vehicles being transferred to the Iraqi government or shipped out to one of 30 deployed locations," said Senior Master Sgt. Eric Lorow, the 332nd ELRS vehicle maintenance superintendent.
According to Lorow, all vehicles were given a four-hour inspection to check for function capabilities and ensure they were both mechanically and cosmetically serviceable.
"We had people here until the last day," Lorow said. "The Iraqi government didn't want to come into a junkyard and we made sure that didn't happen."
During the course of the U.S. operations in Iraq, JB Balad provided top cover for U.S. and coalition forces. F-16 Fighting Falcons, C-130 Hercules, MC-12 Liberties, HH-60 rescue helicopters and MQ-1B Predator remotely piloted vehicles all once called JB Balad home. It was the second largest installation in Iraq and housed the Air Force Theater Hospital, which boasted a 98 percent survival rate for the more than 35,000 U.S. troops who were treated here.
"Over the course of the more than eight years at JB Balad, Airmen have done something very special and worthy," Neubauer said. "There were some very challenging circumstances to overcome here, and I want our countrymen to appreciate the sacrifices of our Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines and be proud of them."
Comments
11/17/2011 5:19:07 PM ET The most meaningful tour of my career. Nothing compares. The Legend Continues Weasel AMU OIC 07-08
Maj Don Newton, Kirtland AFB NM
11/17/2011 4:03:54 PM ET I was there from Aug 2005-Jan 2006. All my times in Iraq x4 Camp Anaconda as it was called at the time was the best. I'm glad I was able to be a part of the base formery known as Mortariaville.
Matt Franklin, FE WARREN AFB WY
11/17/2011 12:29:56 PM ET I was proud to be a part of the AMOG that opened AF operations in Balad back in 03. That was an exciting time and place.
SMSgt Crowell, Offutt AFB NE
11/17/2011 9:51:33 AM ET The story of Balad AB and its Airmen is worthy of a book. Proud to have been there at the very beginning as a combat communicator. Well done to all who have called Balad home. 332 AEW Det 1 - Oct 2003- Feb 2004
Col Matt Haber, Pentagon
11/16/2011 2:48:47 PM ET I was at the AFTH at Balad in 07. We saved a hell of a lot of lives while we were there. It's bitter sweet to see us leave JBB, but I'm proud to have been part of the history of the Red Tail Medics...Bustin' Ours to Save Yours.
Red Tail, Medic
11/16/2011 12:18:12 PM ET Wow, the closing of an awesome chapter. I was deployed to Balad in late '05 and early '06 in support of MQ-1 operations. A proud moment for me was meeting the Tuskegee Airman and taking them on a tour of our GCSs and aircraft. Other events that made this deployment memorable were portapotty dashes between alarms, learning to swim and drive a stick shift, living with the burn pit being in awe of the native architecture and just the reality of being in Iraq. I met a lot of good people and Im proud to have been a Tuskegee Airman.
TSgt Kimberly Scott, Holloman AFB
11/16/2011 8:12:12 AM ET Proud to have been part of the 332 ECES back in '09. it was a memorable experience and i learned a lot about Air Force heritage while i was there. Sad to see it close. i personally spoke to several Iraqis who were thankful for our presence.
Chris, Dyess
11/16/2011 1:52:26 AM ET Way to go Vehicle Mgmt. We did an awesome job out there. glad to have been apart of it
E. Campbell, RAB
11/15/2011 4:38:51 PM ET This is sort of bitter news for me and maybe for some others who had the privilege of serving at JBB. At its height it was quite the well-oiled military base.I hope and pray we don't one day regret leaving Iraq the way we are.
Bill Brockman, Atlanta GA
11/15/2011 10:39:56 AM ET My two tours at JBB were very memorable. I am proud of all who I served with while there, happy to have been a part of this mission. It is sad that the local community will no longer have our support, especially in the hospital.
TSgt Melena Quetel, Dover AFB DE
11/15/2011 12:33:25 AM ET End of an era. There sure was a lot going on there. Not a bad place to spend a little time either. 46ERS 2009.
JB, WAFB MO
11/14/2011 2:04:14 PM ET As a former member of the 332 EFSS 332 AEW, I had a great time and met and worked with some awesome folks at JB Balad. Sad to see it go but life goes on. Proud to be a Tuskegee Airman.
