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Show AIR FORGE NEWS Siblings unite in Southwest Asia meeting BY TECH. SGT. MELISSA PHILLIPS . 407th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs Hilltop Times June 2, 2005 Teamwork helps close combat support Air Force attack controllers join Army patrollers TALLIL AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -An Airman here got quite a surprise when she "Basically we use (close-air theaters, a lot more people got off the plane in a forward- BY ARMY SGT. DOUGLAS DEMAIO support) in this area as a reconknow about JTACs." deployed location in Southwest 20th Public Affairs Detachment 1 Asia in transit to her final des- PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Attack controllers train, live naissance tool/ Sergeant Rodriand work with infantry units. guez said. "We really haven't tination. Afghanistan (AFPN) - Air used it for its primary purpose, "It's fun," said Sergeant It was the smiling face of Force air and ground combat her brother, Staff Sgt. Matsupport elements accompanied Rodriguez, who is serving on but I guess the way this war his third deployment. "You're is going here, its purpose is thew Hochstein, an aerospace infantrymen from the 508th not sitting back on a base. You'rerecon." ground equipment technician Infantry Regiment during a with the 379th Expeditionary presence patrol in the moun- actually outside the wire meet- On a day-to-day basis, the unit Maintenance Squadron who is tainous region here recently. ing the people and seeing the goes out on presence patrols to deployed from Offutt Air Force Air Force joint terminal attack region. I wouldn't want to do reinforce security here. "The people know that the Base, Neb. controllers, who are attached anything else." 508th is here," Sergeant Rodrito an Army unit to coordinate Sergeant Rodriguez and "I mentioned to him that I was going to stop there (and close-air support for ground Airman 1st Class Chad Wil- guez said. "They know they are gave him my plane's mission movements, worked closely liams, who is deployed from always on patrols. Every time with an A-10 Thunderbolt II 1st ASOC's Detachment 1 in they roll out, there is always a number), but I didn't expect for him to be waiting for me at that soared above the patrol. Freiburg, Germany, sharpened bird up above." Providing close-air support for the bottom of the stairs when I "Before the war started, not their skills as they convoyed exited the plane," said Airman many people even knew there to the remote village of Nakah the Soldiers lets the enemy know that the coalition is armed and 1st Class Theresa Hochstein, a were (Airmen) attached to the with the patrol. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Douglas DeMalo looking to keep Paktika secure, supply technician with the 407thArmy," said Staff Sgt. Ezekiel The coordination the conPAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan -- Airman 1st Class Chad Williams Airman Williams said. Expeditionary Civil Engineer Rodriguez who is deployed fromtrollers made with the A-10 an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot to coordinate close-air support, He talks to Squadron here. "The main thing we bring to the 4th Air Support Operations Thunderbolt II pilot gave the Is a joint terminal attack controller attached with the Army's 508th InPlanning to call him later that Squadron's Detachment 1 in patrol a three-dimensional view the battle is air power, just a fantry Regiment and is deployed from the 1st Air Support Operations night when the group of Air- Vicenza, Italy. "Now that there of the battlefield as they left for show of force to let the enemy Squadron's Detachment 1 in Freiburg, Germany. know we are here," he said. are two wars going on in two the daylong mission. men she was traveling with was dismissed to rest before their next flight, the encounter was their first meeting since Christmas. Since this is her first deployment in her two-year tenure with the Air Force, Airman Hochstein stocked up on advice from her big brother who has been deployed five times in his military career. "He told me about some of the things he saw during his past deployments, and that gave me a better idea of what I BAGHDAD, Iraq (AFPN)was getting into," said Airman Four U.S. Airmen and one Iraqi Hochstein, whose job is to supairman were killed Monday ply Airmen here the tools they when an Iraqi air force Comp need to maintain and improve Air 7SL aircraft crashed in easttheir work areas. ern Diyala province during an While at her brother's deployed operational mission. location, Airman Hochstein took The aircraft belonged to Iraqi's him alongwithhertothebase 3rd Squadron and is a single enexchange to purchase a few last gine high-winged aircraft used An Iraqi "civilian reported the minute things. for surveillance and movement crash to Joint Communications "He said for me to get the of people. The Iraqi air force Center officials in Khanaqin at little stick-up air fresheners," had seven of these aircraft in its noon. Iraqi and coalition forces said Airman Hochstein, who inventory. in the area responded to the Air Force photo by Ma). Thomas Nllchel deployed from Mountain Home crash site and secured the imThe crash happened near JaluTALLIL AIR BASE, Iraq -(Left) Airman 1st Class Mitchell Zipprich, of the 732nd Expeditionary Civil EnAFB, Idaho. "I didn't understand gineering Squadron's Detachment 2, and a unidentified solider squeeze off a few practice rounds on a Ia which is about 50 miles north- mediate area. why until I got here. east of Ba'qubah. The aircraft The names of the Airmen "These tents are really old; machine gun attached to a Humvee In the desert surrounding the base. The vehicle Is used to provide prothe air fresheners really help tection for the Joint crew of Air Force and Army civil engineers who travel off base to Improve conditions left Kirkuk Air Base at about 10 killed are being withheld penda.m. on a mission to Jalula. ing notification of next of kin. because if you put them in the for Soldiers and Iraqis. air vent then the whole tent will smell good," she said. Airman and Sergeant Hochstein are the only two out of six children who are in the military. difference when he looks outside the Humvee window tions at rural posts helping the Iraqi people rebuild "It was nice to see him and TALLIL AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -The public driving to remote locations. their lives. works directorate here, comprising Air Force and that he was doing well," Airman "The news portrays us as the bad guys, and that we Although not as realistic as living in the field, the AirArmy civil engineers, work on everything from conHochstein said. "I've always are treating Iraqis wrong," said Airman Zipprich, who men got a small taste of what life is like in the Army structing new facilities to designing waste-water treatlooked at the challenges I've has been in the military for less than two years. "That's before their deployments. ment facilities to installing electric power nodes. faced in my career as, 'If Matt not true. We're building it back up to turn the country The Air Force engineers must attend three weeks "In short, if you need a construction project done, we can do it, so can I.'" over to them. of combat skills training in the U.S. where they learn all," said Maj. Thomas Niichel, 732nd Expeditiondo it Sergeant Hochstein said he convoy techniques, weapons operations and close"They live in old abandoned tents," he said. irWe thinks this deployment will be ary Civil Engineer Squadron's Detachment 2 deputy quarters fighting skills before deploying to Southwest are over here doing something; it's not just all for the a good experience for his little commander here. He is deployed from the Colorado Asia for another week of training. American people." Air National Guard's 240th Civil Engineer Flight at sister. The engineers currently have 162 projects in various All the time spent away from their families does not "Now she gets to meet new Buckley Air Force Base. count toward their deployment time. The Air Force en- stages of design or funding and 25 projects in execuBesides being part of the Army directorate, the Airpeople, travel the world and tion. Although some of the projects do not directly afgineers here have been in country since January. see many different things and men are also assigned to the 732nd ECES, which is fect the Airmen stationed here, they do immediately a squadron with its headquarters at Balad Air Base, Part engineer and humanitarian enthusiast, the cultures," he said. affect the quality of life for the Soldiers. seamless crew had worked off base on more than 50 Although she has traveled a Iraq. It has more than 325 Airmen spread out over "The ... crew does an outstanding job providing conmissions in the past three months. They have installed world away from her hometown12 detachments throughout U.S. Central Command's water supply pumps and electricity, paved roads and struction support and service to the (Soldiers)," said of Hartington, Neb., her family isarea of responsibility. helped Iraqis maintain their water canals. Army 1st Lt. Robert McElhaney. 'They've become so Airmen in the squadron augment Army or Marine always close in her thoughts. good at speaking the Army language, most of the time, units and provide civil engineering expertise and supAnd they helped deliver tents to Iraqis and coordinate "We've always had a close we don't even notice they are (Airmen)." port in Iraq. medical attention for injured Iraqi children. family, and I'm the farthest Engineers recently renovated six buildings including "The Air Force brings a unique engineering capabiliAirman Washington said a memorable job for him away," she said. "I have five a mosque, installed morale call trailers and several ty not usually found in the was installing electricity in an Army-sponsored docArmy," said Col. Mike Flood, brothers, and they mean the other morale, welfare and recreation projects. tor's office in a small Iraqi town. who is also deployed from the 240th CES. "Our team world to me. here is truly joint with 10 (Airmen) and five (Soldiers). Often taking on unglamorous jobs, the crew also Before their visit, the doctor was examining and "I tell my friends and family built new waste-water treatment lagoons and repaired "We work as one team," he said. "Every Airman and providing health care to local children without lightthat this is a chance to really water supply canals to benefit people here. Soldier is focused on-building a small city while ensur- ing and with temperatures soaring above 100 degrees. make difference, and this is The Soldiers stationed there did not have a washer, and ing we... take care of each other.*1 "It may not look as good as some of the other bases jn one of those sacrifices that their bathroom facilities were outhouses. theater, but in spite of the looting that took place (before Working outside the normal Air Force environment you can see the direct effect Operation Iraqi Freedom), this base is quickly developAfter the job was finished, the Army doctor thanked that is has on so many people," has been an eye-opener for Senior Airman Larry them, Airman Washington said. "It felt good, because I ing into a very capable logistics base," Colonel Flood Airman Hochstein said. (Some Washington, who is deployed from Ellsworth AFB, Team effort Five Airmen confirmed dead Crash takes lives of four US. and one Iraqi Airmen team with soldiers to better Iraqi communities information obtained from 379th S.D. The Soldiers the Airmen help sometimes do not have Air Expeditionary Wing public hot meals regularly, he said. They live in rough condiaffairs.) knew I made a difference to him." Airman 1st Class Mitchell Zipprich, also deployed from Ellsworth AFB, said he knows he is making a said. (1st Lt. Keith Boyea, Multinational Task Force-Iraq and Staff Sgt. Ryan Hansen, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing public affairs, contributed to this article.) "The US. Air Force — meeting the challenge through Global Vigilance, Reach and Power" Hilltop. riMES Weekly Since 1948 Published by Ogdcn Publishing Corp., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Hill AFB. 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