Some 37 airmen of the Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve Command, and active-duty Air Force deployed to Iraq with the 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE are helping construct four tactical operations centers for US Army elements headquartered at Forward Operating Base Kalsu, south of Baghdad. SSgt. Julie Weckerlein reports that the Army asked for RED HORSE help specifically because they are self-sufficient, providing a variety of specialties from heavy construction to plumbing and electrical. The location has complicated the work on two fronts: slow delivery of construction materials and constant threat of attack in an area known as the “Triangle of Death.”
Aircraft readiness will suffer if Congress does not approve some $1.5 billion worth of spare parts the Air Force requested in its annual Unfunded Priorities List, sent to Capitol Hill last week, Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said.