1st FW/CC to command Iraq's only Air Force wing, visits Balad AB for perspective

  • Published
  • By Capt. Ken Hall
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (ACCNS) --  Although most Airmen currently deployed to Balad will never have the chance to work for the incoming commander, Brig. Gen. Burton Field's visit April 2 to 6 allowed him an opportunity to gauge his upcoming tour, identify strengths and challenge areas, and begin formulating his vision and intent for his year in command here set to begin in July.

General Field is a command pilot with more than 3,200 flying hours in the F-16 Fighting Falcon, and a qualified F-22A Raptor pilot. He began his distinguished career, sliding on his Academy ring in 1979, and has risen to command the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB, Va., and been selected to command the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing after a change of command ceremony scheduled for July.

His visit to Balad began with a stop at the U.S. CENTCOM's Combined Air Operation Center and culminated with his visit to Airmen and tour of the facilities here that make up OIF's combat airpower hub. The general is no stranger to composite wings, being responsible for F-15s and F-22's at Langley.

The general received an orientation tour of the wing's various missions that included visits to the air traffic control tower; tactical air control facilities; combat search and rescue; F-16, Predator and C-130 ops; as well as the Air Force Theater Hospital and Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility.

Lt. Col. Leonardo Profenna said General Field quickly grasped the CASF and AF clinic's mission during his tour of the facilities. "He told Colonel Masterson [332nd EMDG commander] and me that before he came, he knew the med group was doing great work, but after seeing us in action, he said he was 'in awe,'" the 332nd Expeditionary Aerospace Medicine Squadron commander explained. "I'll be home before he takes over, but it's clear the wing will be in good hands after General Rand leaves."

Thoroughly covering all the missions of the 332nd AEW, the general also spent no small amount of time familiarizing himself with the "ILO" Tuskegee Airmen of the 732nd Expeditionary Mission Support Group. He attended an in-brief where all the 732nd's squadron commanders covered their Airmen's taskings throughout Iraq for him and interacted with them in a question and answer period before having lunch together.

"The general was very personable, very excited about all the wing's missions, passionate about the job," said Lt. Col. Kevin Bannister, 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron commander. Deployed here for six months, Colonel Bannister will have the opportunity to serve during the general's command of the wing. "I'm very much looking forward to working for him."

The general was impressed by what he saw of the wing and its Airmen.

"After seeing the incredible things our Airmen are doing, stepping up to the plate day after day, I'm not sure who has the better job, them or me," he said. "I'm both honored and humbled to have been selected for the privilege of commanding the Tuskegee Airmen in battle in a place that encapsulates nearly every element of our Air Force's missions in one fell swoop. July can't come soon enough!"