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Goodbye Blue, hello Silver

Air Combat Command

Release Date: 11/13/2003

By Staff Sgt. Russell Wicke 455th Expeditionary Operations Group Public Affairs.

11/13/2003 - BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (ACCNS) - It's dark outside. Even artificial lights are forbidden here at night. In a single file line, about 20 Davis-Monthan airmen make their way from the belly of a C-130 Hercules on the flightline. They follow the only visible mark; a blue glow stick held by their leading guide.

Directly to the east is a minefield.

Throughout the next few weeks many more will arrive in this fashion. The airmen come to relieve other airmen in the war on terrorism. They are part of Aerospace Expeditionary Force Silver and the 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron out of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

The 354th EFS will replace the 81st EFS, out of Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, as AEF Silver replaces AEF Blue.

"The biggest challenge with this is to have a seamless transition without mission degradation," said Lt. Col. Richard Johnson, 455th Expeditionary Operations Group deputy commander. "The transition should be complete by mid-November." Colonel Johnson is an A-10 pilot deployed from Spangdahlem.

Because this is an Army installation, airmen are the minority. Although the Air Force has multiple responsibilities here, the main mission is providing close air support for soldiers, which is airpower support in close proximity of friendly ground forces.

At Bagram Air Base, this responsibility lies with the capable A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft.

The airmen arriving from Davis-Monthan are finding the living conditions to be much higher than expected.

"I thought we were going to be sleeping on cots in tents without air conditioning or heat," said Master Sgt. Allan Kuntz, the 455th EOG first sergeant deployed from Davis-Monthan. "Instead, what I found was people moving into timber huts and sleeping on beds. I was also surprised to find we had hot water for showers and washing machines."

But despite the living comforts available here, the enemy threat is high and the ground forces are redeemed often by the A-10s.

"The roots of the global war on terrorism are right here in Afghanistan," Colonel Johnson said. "This is a real mission. We see results every day."

The airmen serving here all contribute to the final business of dropping bombs. Although not everyone ventures outside the wire into enemy territory, all forces here are still vulnerable to incoming rockets. Because of this threat, bunkers fortified with several layers of sandbags are found at every turn. The military remains on high alert at all times.

Although it's a dangerous business, it's necessary for the Air force to be here. Operation Enduring Freedom would not be a success without airpower, Colonel Groznik said.

"AEF Blue set a high standard," he said. "I have no doubt that AEF Silver will raise that bar. That's just our military nature. We're competitive."