'Red Tail One' visits Kirkuk Regional Air Base

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jessica Lockoski
  • 506th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
KIRKUK REGIONAL AIR BASE, Iraq --  Brig. Gen. Brian Bishop, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing commander, traveled from Balad Air Base, Iraq, to visit Airmen here Jan. 21 to check on their quality of life and morale while concurrently educating deployers to this subordinate unit on the wing's history.

At the first of several squadron stops during his visit, he went to the base defense operations center, or BDOC, where he met with 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Airmen during their daily, morning guard mount.

"I was surprised," said Tech. Sgt. Michael Goode, BDOC supervisor, deployed from the 302nd Security Forces Squadron, Peterson AFB, Colo. "It's nice to know my supervisors recognize I'm doing a good job here."

He came out of his way to recognize this squadron, the Albuquerque, N.M., native added.

Bishop and Chief Master Sgt. David Williamson, wing command chief, spoke to members of the largest squadron immediately upon arrival at this northern Air Force base. They asked them to provide feedback on concerns, to ask questions they have while deployed, and how he could help them to better accomplish their missions.

Among the general's main concerns were the proficiency in deployers' pre-deployment training and how they could compare the facilities at the base to what they expected prior to their arrival.

He also challenged Airmen throughout the day with identifying the direct line between their jobs and the generation and projection of airpower in Iraq. If they didn't know, the general lightheartedly offered, he would be happy to personally explain it anytime.

He also discussed the historic wing's legacy while using the 332nd coin as a tangible reminder of how the wing earned its name from the famous, all-African American 332nd Fighter Group, the Tuskegee Airmen.

As he showed Airmen the P-51 Mustang embossed on the coin, he pointed out to them the distinctive crimson paint on the aircraft tail was a marker of the Tuskegee Airman's legacy and symbolizes their will to overcome adversity.

"We have the legacy, history and heritage of our Tuskegee Airmen, as you are now Tuskegee Airmen, General Bishop said.

He compared how the adversity the original Tuskegee Airmen overcame during their service to the nation relates to today's adversities Airmen manage daily.

"You are helping take this (Tuskegee Airmen) legacy into the future," Bishop said.
Before departing, General Bishop officiated a Stripes for Exceptional Performers-promotion ceremony, promoting to master sergeant Tech. Sgt. Charles Price, explosive ordnance disposal technician, 506th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron,

"It was quite a shock, to me at least, receiving a stripe while in a deployed location," Sergeant Price said. "I know there are a ton of Airmen out there doing some of the toughest jobs every day and it makes me appreciate how lucky I am."