Airmen shadow local workers

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Sean E. Cobb
  • 447th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AFPN) --  Although shadows under a desert sun may be rare, whenever a local contractor works on an air base in Iraq one or two are always found.

At nearby Camp Sather those shadows are Airmen from the 447th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron's force protection escort element who accompany all foreign contractors onto and around the base.

About 40 Airmen at the camp escort contractors with jobs like food service, custodial work, laundry services, merchandise stocking, trash removal and sewage pumping. The escorts come from 10 different career fields such as aircraft maintenance, munitions, finance and civil engineering.

“We escort an average of 75 to 80 people a day,” said Tech. Sgt. James Niblett, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the escort program.

The escorts do much more than “shadow” the visitors, Sergeant Niblett said. They are trained to detect information-gathering, conduct quality control and handle situations despite language barriers, he said.

They are always on the lookout for contractors wandering away from their duties, pacing off distances or looking around areas not associated with their work, said Airman Brandon Castillo, an escort.

“For the most part (the contractors) are really pretty nice, but we don’t want them to take advantage of our friendship,” he said.

Although there is more to the job than watching other people work, sometimes the job can get tedious, said Airman 1st Class Rick Jonas, another escort.

“Missing home is one of the most challenging things I deal with,” Airman Jonas said. “This kind of job gives a person plenty of time to think about home and what we have there.”

Some of the contractors speak English, and talking about common things helps pass the time, Airman Jonas said.

“They like music; we like music,” he said. “They want to have cell phones just like we do. They also like to talk about their families -- many of them seem to have large ones!”

Most of the escorts said that working at the camp’s Iraqi-owned food and souvenir vendor cafe is one of the best spots to get assigned. It is air-conditioned, activity abounds, and the conversation is good, Airman Castillo said.

The Airmen are curious about conditions in Baghdad, aspects of the Muslim culture and how the Iraqis feel about Americans, said Sukaina al-Safar, the café’s owner.

“I like talking to the Americans,” she said. “I tell them life in Baghdad is better, but (progress) is slow.”

Americans and contractors working together is mutually beneficial, said Airman 1st Class Jeremiah Jones, an escort. Necessary jobs get taken care of, and through the escort program, the air base is kept safe and secure, he said.

“It all seems to be working, and we are getting the job done,” he said.