Facilities transfer marks continued progress

By Army 1st Lt. Nathan Lavy

103rd Sustainment Command

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq (01/03/11) - Representatives from the Government of Iraq and the Iraqi Air Force met with leaders from the 224th Special Troops Battalion, 224th Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), to turn over several facilities to the GoI Dec. 23 at Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq.

The 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) includes National Guard members.

Following the historical Iraqi Air Force’s Squadron 70 stand-up ceremony Nov. 23 at Ali Base, Iraq (COB Adder), this document-signing and facilities-transfer ceremony represented another step forward in the U.S. Army’s partnership with the Iraqi Air Force.

Army Lt. Col. Nicole Balliet, COB Adder garrison commander with the 224th STB, met with Brig. Gen. Hakeem Aboud, commander of Ali Air Base and Mr. Hassan Hammoudeh, GoI commander of logistics.

“Today is a great day; it is an honor and a privilege to be part of such an historic event,” Balliet said. “Today we turn over facilities of Ali Base to our Iraqi partners. This signifies the continued transfer of authority to the Government of Iraq. We look forward to our continued partnership with the Iraqi Air Force.”

After Balliet spoke to all those in attendance, Aboud delivered his words of appreciation to the U.S. Forces and spoke to the significance of the signing and facilities-transfer.

“Today is a very important day for our Air Force,” he said. “Today we’ll receive eight buildings.  In the near future we’ll receive more buildings. We hope to work together to succeed in our mission. Our mission is not only to fight terrorists. I’d like to thank all U.S. Forces for their help from the beginning.”

Other event special guests included Col. Hashem Hassan, commander of logistics at Ali Base; Col. Nazeh Al Fahed, commander of Squadron 70 at Ali Base; members of the U.S. Air Force and the Army.