Manas Airmen open base to Kyrgyz college students
by Senior Master Sgt. Patrick J. McCracken
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
11/24/2008 - MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan (AFNS) -- Looking
for ways to strengthen ties with the local Kyrgyz people, Manas Air
Base Airmen hosted 15 students and faculty from the American Central
University of Central Asia here Nov. 5.
The AUCA students' first stop was to the wing headquarters building
where they were welcomed by Col. Christopher Bence, the 376th Air
Expeditionary Wing commander. He explained Airmen here work to support
the movement of personnel and equipment into and out of Afghanistan and
also refuel aircraft flying over Afghanistan daily with its fleet of
KC-135 Stratotankers.
During the briefing, the students learned about 650 Kyrgyz people are
employed by Manas AB and many others are employed by local contractors
who bid for various base projects. They learned that Airmen, in their
off-duty time, volunteer to visit schools and orphanages to help fix
plumbing, repair roofs or build playgrounds, and donated money over the
years to pay for 114 heart surgeries at the Children's Heart Hospital
in Bishkek.
"I think I speak for everyone here when I say that we all had a mental
picture of how the American base might be like, but it is nothing like
we imagined. It is so much better and the Airmen so friendly," said
Madina Alieva, an AUCA student.
After the mission briefing, the students visited the passenger terminal
where they got to see firsthand how the wing supports passengers and
equipment transiting through Manas AB. Part of that process includes
the expeditionary theater distribution center, where servicemembers
receive individual body armor prior to going into Afghanistan.
"I cannot believe how heavy all of this equipment is and how hard it is
to maneuver in," said Zemfira Idrisova, an AUCA career counselor
assistant. "It must be really tough for those guys to have to wear all
of that gear every day."
The students then met the security forces dog handlers and saw a
demonstration of the working dogs in action before heading to the
flightline and touring a KC-135.
Their visit culminated with a dinner with wing leadership and two AUCA alumni who now work on the base as interpreters.
"I was so very happy when the base approached me about bringing the
students out to see what they do and to share their educational and
career experiences," said Lira Djuraeva, an AUCA student career
counselor. "I was so impressed with the Airmen here and how real and
down to Earth they are. This is such a wonderful opportunity for all of
us to have this interaction and we really enjoyed our visit. I am
already planning for our next visit."
Students from the American University of Central Asia try on individual body armor used by forces deploying to Afghanistan during a Nov. 5 visit to Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan. Students learned about the mission and the Airmen who serve at the base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. Patrick J. McCracken) Download Full Image
Col. Christopher Bence gives a mission briefing to students from the American University of Central Asia during a Nov. 5 visit to Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan. Students learned about the mission and the Airmen who serve at the base. Colonel Bence is the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. Patrick J. McCracken) Download Full Image
Students from the American University of Central Asia have dinner with Airmen during a Nov. 5 visit to Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan. Students learned about the mission and the Airmen who serve at the base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. Patrick J. McCracken) Download Full Image