Staff Sgt. Michael Braach (left), Airman 1st Class Irving Adams (middle) and Senior Airman Wally Carney clown around before take-off Dec. 18, 2011, on a C-17 Globemaster III at Ali Air Base, Iraq. The Airmen are the last service members to redeploy from Iraq based on the Iraq and U.S. 2008 Security Agreement that required all U.S. service members to be out of the country by Dec. 31. Braach, Adams and Carney are firefighters assigned to the 407th Air Expeditionary Group. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)
Col. Ted Mathews shakes the hand the Airmen under his command Dec. 18, 2011, before they board a C-17 Globemaster III at Ali Air Base, Iraq. Mathew's Airmen were the last Airmen to redeploy from Iraq. Mathews is the 407th Air Expeditionary Group commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)
Staff Sgt. Gerardo Munoz guards a C-17 Globemaster III that will transport the last Airmen from Iraq on Dec. 18, 2011, at Ali Air Base, Iraq. Munoz is a security forces member assigned to the 385th Air Expeditionary Group. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)
Airman 1st Class Simeon Tidwell walks across the flightline to board a C-17 Globemaster III Dec. 18,2011, at Ali Air Base, Iraq. He is one of the last Airmen to redeploy from Iraq. He is assigned to the 407th Air Expeditionary Group. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)
Airmen assigned to the 407th Air Expeditionary Group prepare to take off on a C-17 Globemaster III Dec. 18, 2011, at Ali Air Base, Iraq. The Airmen are the last service members to leave Iraq. Since 2003, more than one million service members have served in Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)
Senior Airman Nicholas Olsen and Airman 1st Class Justin Smith prepare the last pallet to be transported from Ali Air Base, Iraq, Dec. 18, 2011. The Airmen are the last service members to redeploy from Iraq based on the Iraq and U.S. 2008 Security Agreement that required all U.S. service members to be out of the country by Dec. 31. Olsen and Smith are aerial porters assigned to the 407th Air Expeditionary Group. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)
Staff Sgt. Aviam Krupnick prepares to turn in his weapon Dec. 18, 2011, at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. Krupnick and the Airmen accompanying him are the last service members to redeploy from Iraq. Krupnick is an aerial porter assigned to the 407th Air Expeditionary Group. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)
Staff Sgt. Michael Braach prepares to turn in his weapon Dec. 18, 2011, at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. Braach and his fellow Airmen are the last service members to redeploy from Iraq based on the Iraq and U.S. 2008 Security Agreement that required all U.S. service members to be out of the country by Dec. 31. Braach is a firefighter assigned to the 407th Air Expeditionary Group. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)
An 407th Air Expeditionary Wing aerial porter prepares the last pallet to be transported out of Ali Air Base, Iraq, Dec. 18, 2011. A group of Airmen were the last service members to redeploy from Iraq based on the Iraq and U.S. 2008 Security Agreement that required all U.S. service members to be out of the country by Dec. 31. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)
The 407th Air Expeditionary Group Passenger Terminal, which is normally bustling with traveling service members, is being used for the last time Dec. 18, 2011, by the last remaining Airmen leaving Ali Air Base, Iraq. The last remaining U.S. airmen left Iraq per the Iraq and U.S. 2008 Security Agreement that required all U.S. service members to be out of the country by Dec. 31, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)
12/19/2011 - ALI AIR BASE, Iraq (AFNS) -- A group of Airmen redeployed from here Dec. 18, marking the last service members to leave Iraq. A 2008 Security Agreement between Iraq and the U.S. required all U.S. service members to be out of the country by Dec. 31.
Comments
12/30/2011 1:22:10 AM ET An Air Force news release is warranted after 1 Jan 2012 to inform the public about the great work our Airmen are continuing to do on the ground in Iraq during their 365-day ITDYs. WIthout it, imagine the next parent that hears their son or daughter is being deployed to Iraq to replace one of us after the AF News reported we are all out. How's that for bad PR?
Airman, Iraq
12/22/2011 12:43:36 PM ET While I would expect the news to so stupidly remark Last Airmen leave Iraq, I expect more accuracy from the Air Force. Your title should read Last Combat Airman.... The training and equiping mission goes on with talented U.S. Airman and fellow service members working hard here in Iraq.
Airman in Iraq, Iraq
12/21/2011 7:55:19 AM ET Dear Sir, I am a little disappointed. Your story from 19 December claims that the airmen on the aircraft departing Ali Airbase were the last servicemembers to leave Iraq. I can tell you that there are several hundred of us still in Baghdad and throughout Iraq. All the reporting saying that all troops are out of Iraq in the press is not surprising, but I would have expected more from official Air Force reporting.vr, Lt Col William Fry, Office of Security Cooperation - Iraq
BJ Fry, Baghdad Iraq
12/20/2011 12:36:36 PM ET I recommend you get the facts straight before making such an inaccurate statement. There are still Airmen deployed in Iraq - my husband for example. Last time I checked he is still active duty still an Airman and still in Baghdad, Iraq. When his rotation is up in 2012, he will be replaced with another Airman...
Sue, Colorado
12/19/2011 4:50:13 PM ET This is not true and saying so endangers us that are still here. As reported widely, there are 157 servicemembers remaining after the end of the year as part of the Office of Security Cooperation Iraq. Many of us are Airmen. Facts should not be ignored just to make a campaign promise seem like it was fulfilled. The Defense Attache Office also has Airmen assigned and NATO which also has USAF Airmen assigned has not yet completed its withdrawal. Saying that everyone is out endangers us because it makes it seem like we are staying here for some covert operation just the kind of fodder that insurgents need to build support for their cause.
