Air Force convoys end in Iraq

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Chris Stagner
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
TALLIL AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) --  With the closure of the Tallil Tavern Dining Facility, the dangerous 150-mile convoy trip from here to Kuwait has ended for the Air Force convoy team.

“Most of the convoys were for food supplies,” said Chief Master Sgt. Scott Dearduff, 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron superintendent. “With the closure of the dining hall there is no longer a need for them.”

The 332nd ESFS convoy fire team made more than 50 trips during the current rotation, transporting about 5,000 tons of supplies valued at more than $2 million, Chief Dearduff said.

Hazards for convoys ranged beyond the dangers of enemy attacks, said Tech. Sgt. Judson Lamoree, 332nd ESFS convoy commander.

“The [local] drivers are very unpredictable,” Sergeant Lamoree said. “It gets really crazy sometimes.”

Besides the dangers of the traffic, improvised explosive devices were a concern for the convoys traveling through Iraq.

Some people have been attaching IEDs to animals, Sergeant Lamoree said.

This practice turns a herd of camels crossing the street, or a herd of sheep walking beside it, into a possible danger.

The convoys did not stop unless it is necessary.

“We (didn’t) stop the convoy for anything other than assisting someone in a firefight,” said Airman Michael Holder, 332nd ESFS convoy fire team member. “It’s (being a convoy fire team member) something I’ve never done in this career field. It’s something not a lot of cops get to do. Plus, it (let) me get out and see the country.”

With the convoys finished, a number of airmen moved to different roles within the security forces squadron, which was good for the security forces mission here, Chief Dearduff said.

“They have been absorbed back into the installation security scheme, making more troops available to work a more effective duty schedule,” he said.