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Iraqi Air Force Breaks Ground for New Air Operations Center (Hawk)

Multi-National Force-Iraq

Saturday, 03 October 2009

Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Phoenix Base
APO AE 09348

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release No. 091003-03
Oct. 3, 2009

Iraqi Air Force Breaks Ground for New Air Operations Center

HAWK BASE, Iraq – More than 75 American and Iraqi Airmen attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the Iraqi air force’s new Air Operations Center here Sept. 30.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Robert Kane, 321st Air Expeditionary Wing commander, and Staff Lt. Gen. Anwar Hamad Amen Ahmed, Iraqi Air Force commander, presided.

When the $9 million project is complete in eight months, it will provide a modern operations floor along with office space for the Iraqi airmen to provide command and control for the Iraqi Air Force. It will feature the integrated tools necessary to plan and execute all aspects of airpower, providing the Ministry of Defense and Iraqi Air Force leadership a complete picture of Iraqi airpower as it supports joint military operations across the country.

Anwar said the day’s ceremony represented a dream come true for the Iraqi Air Force and that the Iraqis appreciate the support from the U.S. Government and its Air Force.

“We wouldn’t have gotten to this point if it weren’t for you,” he said. “The Iraqi air force will never forget you – what has happened will always stay in our memories.”

The current Iraqi AOC is located at Camp Victory, Iraq, and is the work place of Iraqi airmen and their American advisors in several different career fields, including weather, intelligence and logistics.

“In today’s world of instant information and time-sensitive operations, an effective air operations center is essential for taking full advantage of airpower’s capabilities,” Kane said. “This new Iraqi air operations center at Hawk Base – the site of the new Iraqi Air Force headquarters – will play a central role in the growth and future success of the Iraqi air force and will be a key to maintaining a secure, stable and sovereign Iraq.”

Kane acknowledged the importance of the U.S.-Iraq advisory partnership to the success of this new facility, adding, “In the end, while this building and its infrastructure will enable effective command and control, it will be trained and experienced airmen who will use it to optimize the advantages of airpower in defending the Iraqi people.”

“We are extremely proud of the friendship we have with our Iraqi air force brothers and the partnership we have in this important project,” he said. “I look forward to seeing this AOC, the building and its people become the nerve-center of the Iraqi air force.”

As part of the official groundbreaking, a gold-plated time capsule was placed in the ground. Engraved on its side is this inscription: “Iraqi Air Force Operations Center with support of the United States Air Force, September 2009.”

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FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS RELEASE, CONTACT THE MULTI-NATIONAL SECURITY TRANSITION COMMAND – IRAQ PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE BY E-MAIL AT PAO@IRAQ.CENTCOM.MIL OR BY HONE AT DSN: (318) 852-1332 OR IRAQNA: 0790-194- 0270. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION VISIT: WWW.MNSTCI.IRAQ.CENTCOM.MIL.