AFMC Command News

Services feeds, shelters transient troops

  • Published
  • By Maj. Ann P. Knabe
  • 379 Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFMCNS) --  "They came in droves, hungry and tired," said Lt. Col. David Preston, 379th Expeditionary Services Squadron commander. "But Services was up for the challenge."

Bad weather delayed flights around the theater of operations. As a result, the base had an increased amount of transient personnel waiting to fly in and out.

"We knew the rotational schedule was tight, with lots of people overlapping from AEF 7/8 and 9/10," said Lt. Col. Dave McCormick, 379th Expeditionary Mission Support Group deputy commander. "The delayed flights added to our transient (personnel) numbers, and we exceeded our lodging capacity by 35 percent."

The base broke all records in lodging and dining, according to Colonel Preston. More than 3,000 transients spent the night on base (Jan. 18). The gym, theater and an unused dining hall served as backup billeting, where more than 300 servicemembers slept on cots or in chairs. Other guests were bussed to a nearby Army camp.

Meanwhile, the Independence Dining Facility staff fed troops around the clock. At 4 a.m., long lines formed as staff extended breakfast hours to accommodate the visitors. Yet no one went hungry.

"We didn't need to serve any MREs," said Colonel Preston. "Anyone who wanted a hot meal had one."

The wing also continued to issue ration cards and other creature comforts to visiting Soldiers and Airmen. The Logistics Readiness Squadron added extra buses to move the high number of transients between the Air Terminal Operations Center and Coalition Compound, and Security Forces worked extra hours to ensure guests traveled safely on base.

"I was impressed," said Tech. Sgt. Andrew Leonhard, who spent the night at the base (Jan. 18) on the way to his deployed location with the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. "I've spent the last nine days in the air trying to get to my final assignment in the AOR, and the record numbers were transparent to me. The 379th provided world-class service to this weary Airman."

Senior leadership credits the professionals assigned to the 379th Services Squadron. "The real heroes are our services folks," said Colonel McCormick. "We have highly trained professionals who planned for this contingency, and they made sure everyone was taken care of."