Life At LSA Anaconda, Balad Air Base, Iraq By SFC Melanie Hughes Additional photos contributed by SFC Boyer, SSG Simmons and SPC Perry A mosque located on the interior of the East Side of Balad Air Base in Iraq. The mosque is fenced off and not open to Soldiers. However, its presence serves as a visual reminder that the Soldiers stationed here are far from home. Recently, I had the privilege of visiting the Soldiers of TF AVCRAD stationed at Life Support Area (LSA) Anaconda at Balad Air Base in Iraq. Actually, I get to see them fairly often, as Balad has been my home base for the past several months as well. I serve as the chaplain assistant for the Army Materiel Command Unit Ministry Team-Forward. While deployed, the troops of TF AVCRAD fall into the realm of my responsibility...along with the other Soldiers, DA/DOD Civilians and Contractors who make up the total AMC Force in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar. The purpose of my visit was to gather material for a newsletter insert that would help family and friends to understand what day to day life at Balad Air Base is like for these Soldiers. Sometimes it helps to hear from an outside source-- especially since getting those all important little details out of our Soldiers can be difficult at times. Obviously my content will have to be edited for security purposes. Nevertheless, I hope those of you with a Soldier who has been stationed here, is currently stationed here or who will be stationed here will gain some understanding or feeling of what life is like while working and living at this particular forward location. Just a note--keep in mind that we are deployed in support of a war. This is not an extended Annual Training period or Summer Camp. However, I can assure family and friends that there are security measures in place that allow us to walk the air base without undue alarm and sleep with ease at night. TF AVCRAD Soldiers stationed at Balad do not normally leave the confines of the post--they work and live on this well-protected base. There are occasional visits to FOBs (Forward Operating Bases) by some, but those journeys are made via air travel, not over ground. From what I see, AVCRAD Soldiers remain vigilant against any threat. They have not become complacent--but they do not live in constant fear. They are strong and ready, and truth be told, the majority of them are enjoying their rotation to Iraq. While all TF AVCRAD Soldiers are in positions to support the war fighter, and all share equally important responsibilities in the Global War on Terrorism, there is something undeniably different about serving closer to the action. While it is highly unlikely that our Soldiers will ever be in a position to engage in combat with the enemy, there is always an inherent danger associated with wearing the US Army uniform wherever you go--in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and even at home in the United States. When you take a stand for something, you open yourself up for attacks from those who disagree with you--and sometimes disagree violently. Regardless of where your Soldier serves, he or she wears the uniform proudly and takes on a certain amount of risk. Within our great military, we all fulfill different functions--and no one is more important than another. You can be proud of your Soldier wherever he or she serves. This week is simply a chance for me to spotlight those currently serving at Balad Air Base. All members of TF AVCRAD are U.S. Army Soldiers, and all are in this fight together.
The TAMP-Iraq Mission in Photos... The Theater Aviation Maintenance Program mission is enormous. The TAMP is the one stop shop for nearly every Army aviation maintenance issue in theater at the depot level. That s a big task, but one that the members of TF AVCRAD meet head on every day. From component and structural repairs and scheduled checks to supply and retrograde responsibilities, TF AVCRAD Soldiers excel at whatever challenge comes their way. The forward team at Balad Air Base has earned a reputation of distinction they are the go-to team that can get the job done. Innovative and efficient, these Soldiers have made a name for themselves on post in the aviation arena good thing for them, since they didn t fare so well on the volleyball circuit! LTC Poole is the TAMP-Iraq Commander. Looks like he s enjoying the post! Expertise in both the technical and managerial aspects of the job make him a well-qualified leader in this position. Left: A well-rounded Executive Officer should be able to handle a variety of tasks but driving a fork lift? I suppose one just never knows. Here is CPT Rainey, TAMP-Iraq XO putting in another hard day at the office. Above: MSG Allen, slotted as the TAMP-Iraq SGM, is seen here at his desk, undoubtedly hard at work on finishing up a BUB (Battle Update Brief) slide for his weekly briefing to the 402nd AFSB Commander. Hey, MSG Allen word on the street over here at the 402nd is that you are one of the best briefers at the BUB. Hooah! Left: SFC Boyer, TAMP-Iraq NCOIC, is a man of many talents. He is seen here pulling his shift of guard duty overseeing a crew doing work in the TAMP area of the air field. The job of NCOIC isn t always behind a desk. I have a feeling this is one of his easier responsibilities!
Production Control & Quality Control Left: PC Officer (Forward), CW3 Felts says his job is a little something of everything. Production Control is the entry point for all work orders, so he s not kidding. Hey! Who is that in the picture in the background? Does he get brownie points at home for that or what? MSG Milam, the PC NCOIC, is caught working at his desk on the weekly status report. I wonder how you quantify a little something of everything...my guess is that the numbers related to the work done by these Soldiers are pretty darn amazing! Left: SFC Bond is on the phone ordering pizza for delivery. NOT. (He was actually making a call for yours truly to see if others were ready for me to come by and take pictures!) As a QC, he spends his time inspecting work he says Avionics inspections make up the bulk of his workload. From the smile he seems to always have on his face, the Avionics repair work must be expertly done! You can t see all of his muscles in this picture, but no matter. SFC Dedeaux uses his brain, not his brawn when acting as QC for AH-64 (Apache Helicopter) blades prior to final assembly.
AVIONICS SHOP Avionics Aviation Electronics. These Soldiers deal with all manner of electronics gear found in Army aviation assets. From GPS systems to countermeasure equipment, these are the professionals who maintain and repair those high dollar items. Above, from left to right: SGT Kidd, SGT Fenoglia, SGT Martinez (standing), SSG Welch and SSG Compton. I appeared on the scene for a picture and interrupted what appeared to be a top-secret meeting. I m afraid I can t divulge the nature of the material discussed but it did involve electronic devices. Left, from left: CW3 Letort, TAMP- Iraq Maintenance Officer and SSG Casey (from the Avionics Shop) take a break (but probably still talk shop) at the smoking area outside. Above: SGT Scrivener at work in the Avionics Shop.
BLADE SHOP Above (left and right) SSG Tillery and SSG Hefner (seen here in photos taken earlier this year), are both out of the Blade shop and are currently out at COB (Contingency Operating Base) Speicher, in Tikrit, taking care of business at that location, north of Balad as you follow the Tigris river. Here they have just finished installing a special step for a General s helicopter. Above, from left: SGT Anderson and SGT Maderer, both sheet metal/structural repair technicians, pose next to a rotor blade and a poster showing the numbers of different types of blades they ve worked on so far. I m sure there will be many more to add to that chart before it s all over!
Supply & Retrograde Operations This team takes care of all supply operations to include retrograde activities. Retrograde work consists in short of finding Army aviation parts that have been sent to a joint distribution center and entering them into a central supply system for processing, repair and re-use by the Army. This high-class form of dumpster diving saves the Army millions of dollars each year and AVCRAD Soldiers are a huge part of the operation to save our tax dollars. Left, from left: SPC Perry, SGT McDonald and SSG Simmons (NCOIC) stop for a minute in their office trailer to have their picture taken. This team is always on the go there is always someone that needs something in the Army! Right, from left: The other half of the supply team: SGT Lizana, a creepy crawly friend, SPC Perry and SPC Meyer. Hey, guys! I don t think the Army is into recycling large, venomous insects! (At least I hope not!) Left: Doing his own kind of frame work, SPC Swiderski had the day off when I arrived for pictures of the supply team so I was given this one as a fill in...great photo!
E.E.T.F. The EETF, Electronic Equipment Testing Facility is run by SSG Lawson. Among other activities, a typical work day can consist of testing and repairing electronic equipment for AH-64 (Apache Helicopter) targeting systems. SSG Lawson works at the EETF trailer on the Air Field. He conducts testing on and repairs electronic equipment and my guess is his airconditioned work area will be a popular spot once the summer weather gets here! ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE An Army does not run, if the paperwork isn t done! If you don t believe me, just ask the TAMP-Iraq Admin NCO. The three key words in real estate may be location, location, location but in the Army, they are document, document, document! Left: SGT Williams enjoys his work you can tell by the smile on his face. Paperwork makes the Army run even if it s done on a paperless computer system.
Living Conditions a t LSA Anaconda Not all DFACs (Dining Facilities) are created equal; there are four mess halls here at LSA Anaconda and having spent many months eating at the mess halls in Iraq and Kuwait both, I d have to say that those at LSA Anaconda are far superior to those at Camp Arifjan. Can you say Mongolian BBQ night? How about Indian fare? Can I interest anyone in the healthy eating café where fresh fish, chicken and shrimp entrees are available every day? LSA Anaconda dining options, clockwise from top left: DFAC, Sami s Turkish Café (with great kebabs and pizza!), and the ever popular fast food establishments! Below: LSA Anaconda boasts two PXs...and I d have to say in this case, Camp Arifjan s two PXs probably top these...but, hey, at least there is a place to shop! There are two (and a half!) gyms for use by everyone on Balad Air Base the East Side Big Gym, the East Side Little (Half) Gym...and this one, on the West Side, closest to TAMP Village.
Home, Sweet Home...for Now Above: TAMP Village the neighborhood where all the AVCRAD Soldiers live. Homes here are called CHUs...Containerized Housing Units...or simply Containers or Trailers. These are the coveted wet CHUs...those with shared bathrooms INSIDE. Ah, indoor plumbing! It s the little things in life that mean so much. Above: SSG Simmons enjoys a quiet moment at home. Here is the wire...actually for security reasons, this is a photo from several months ago the wire has changed somewhat since then. However, it is not uncommon to see local people farming just outside of the compound. Left: Several weeks ago, we had a freak episode of snow flurries! Who d have thought we d see snow in Iraq? In the background is the notorious Balad dump with its never ending burning in progress. Cough! Cough!
THE OFFICE The entrance to the TAMP-Iraq Offices from the air field side. Left: A view toward the front doors of the AVCRAD offices as seen from the doorstep of LTC Poole s office trailer. A helo flies over the ALAMS (Aviation Large Area Maintenance Shelters) where our Tamp-Iraq team works. Left: Another view of the AVCRAD ALAMS...from alongside the always fresh and pleasant smelling porta-potties.
Candid Shots from All Around Clockwise from left: Working retrograde operations can be physically intensive lots of hands on stuff that requires everyone s assistance. In some cases, moving large parts requires the use of a forklift as SPC Swiderski well knows. And, sometimes, the work just wears you out. I suppose when you re tired, there isn t any place you can t curl up and take a nap right, SFC Bond? Below, left: SSG Simmons and MSG Allen share a laugh at the end of the day. Below, right: SGT Hollywood Lizana does his part to prepare for a cook out.
A FEW LAST PHOTOS Left: Physical fitness can be fun! AVCRAD Soldiers regularly participate in an aerobics session at the MWR (Morale, Welfare & Recreation) building. Above: The view from a windshield while cruising down Victory Loop. Above: Inside Sustainer Theater where first-run movies are shown free of charge...and on occasion, concerts are held. Our friends from Uganda have interior guard duty around several post facilities to ensure that everyone has IDs and are complying with rules. And this final picture brings my coverage to a close. Hopefully you ve gotten a little bit of insight into your Soldier s daily working and living conditions from this pictorial tour through TAMP-Iraq. Left: A beautiful Iraqi sunset a spectacular reminder that your AVCRAD Soldier is one day closer to coming home!