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Manas Airmen open base to Kyrgyz college students

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Patrick J. McCracken
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
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."

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