Kyrgyz Government Leaders Experience Base’s Mission in the Air

MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan – The 376th Airlift Wing conducted a base tour and orientation flight aboard a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker for 10 government officials of the Kyrgyz Republic here May 19.  

Members of the Kyrgyz government representing the offices of Presidential Administration, Prime Minister, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry of Finance, members of Parliament, and the Honorable Marie Yovanovitch, the U.S. Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic, started the adventure with briefings on the wing’s mission and orientation flight.  The group then proceeded on a tour of the base which included brief stops at the passenger/cargo terminal, fitness facility and a demonstration of cargo loading equipment behind a C-17 before take off. The flight served as an opportunity to showcase the U.S. Air Force Global Reach capabilities of the KC-135 Stratotanker and C-17 Globemaster III and the Airmen which maintain and operate the aircraft.  

“The orientation flight presented us the opportunity to provide our host nation leadership with a glimpse of what we do each and every day to support the Coalition effort in Afghanistan,” said Col. Scott Reese, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing commander. 

“The United States appreciates the support the government and people of Kyrgyzstan provide to the War on Terrorism.” 

The nearly two-hour flight culminated with a C-17, which is assigned to the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron Detachment 1, being refueled by KC-135, which was flown by personnel of the 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron.

Manas Air Base, which has about 1,200 assigned personnel, plays a critical role in supporting Coalition forces in Afghanistan.  It serves as the primary mobility hub for Operation Enduring Freedom and the International Security Assistance Force by conducting air refueling of U.S. and Coalition aircraft and moving people and cargo into and out of the Afghanistan Area of Operations.