AEF 1/2 Airmen leave Sather a better place Published May 9, 2008 By Tech. Sgt. Amanda Callahan 447th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs SATHER AIR BASE, Iraq -- About four months ago, herds of Airmen stepped off planes to make their mark in history. Airmen of Air and Space Expeditionary Force rotation 1/2 here achieved many accomplishments toward the success of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Working as a cohesive team, they have set the bar for their incoming replacements to aim toward. "AEF 1/2 hit the road running upon their arrival at Sather Air Base," said Col. Fred Cheney, 447th Air Expeditionary Group commander. "They have made this one of the most successful AEF teams in the history of Sather AB." Many members of the 447th Air Expeditionary Group started their AEF rotations in January. Almost immediately, they heard Colonel Cheney's three goals for their tenure; to accomplish the mission in an outstanding manner, to return all members of Team Sather home safely to their families; and improve the quality of life for the Airmen of Sather AB. Members of AEF 1/2 took those words to heart. As far as accomplishing the mission, Team Sather broke records. "The Sather mission is to maintain and operate the airfield and aerial port; that's what everything is centered around," Colonel Cheney said. "In the past four months, we've brought more than 124,000 people through here, plus 41,300 tons of cargo, and that's what the whole mission of Sather revolves around - getting people and equipment through here and out to the field where it's needed." Moving that much cargo and that many people fell on the shoulders of the entire group, but leading the way on the airfield was the 447th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron. "The 447 ELRS is critical to supporting the [Operation Iraqi Freedom] OIF effort by ensuring all associated units have fuel, supplies, vehicles and the equipment required to ensure mission accomplishment," said Lt. Col. Dana Pelletier, the 447 ELRS commander deployed from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. "In the last four months, the unit supported 5,700 aircraft missions, and moved passengers and equipment into and out of the [Victory Base Complex]. Without this support, Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and Sailors would be forced to wait days or weeks longer to receive required logistical support. Through our convoy mitigation efforts, we have successfully kept over 900 trucks and 7,000 personnel off Iraq's dangerous roads." The 447 ELRS wasn't alone in providing stellar professionalism. All nine of the group's squadrons work together to make missions happen, including the 447th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron. "Sather is the stepping off point for many units in Iraq," said Lt. Col. Patrick Roemer, 447 ECES commander and full-time base civil engineer for Niagara Falls Air Reserve Base, N.Y., when not performing the same role while deployed. "The 447 ECES is instrumental in maintaining the base, and it's very important to keep Sather functional." Keeping the Airmen of Sather healthy was also one of Colonel Cheney's goals for members of AEF 1/2, and the 447th Expeditionary Medical Squadron played a large role in making that happen. Members of the 447 EMEDS provided care for more than 2,100 patients since January, including Coalition Forces and civilian contractors. The medical team offered preventative care, which included sleep enhancement classes, battlefield acupuncture and smoking cessation, as well as primary and emergency care. "We trained extensively to prepare for major disasters," said Col. Gregory Biernacki, 447 EMEDS commander. "But we offered daily care and kept the 447th healthy. Together, we all made the mission happen." Colonel Cheney's last goal for members of AEF 1/2 here was far from overlooked. The base worked together to improve the quality of life for the Airmen, Soldiers and civilians of Sather. From the base's Airman and junior NCO organization, the Rising 6, "flipping" an abandoned building to a gathering area filled with books, games and sitting areas, to the 447 ECES and 447th Contracting Office working to move Airmen and Soldiers out of tents and into trailers, many future rotations will reap the benefits of the hard work of AEF 1/2. "This rotation may not see the finished projects," Colonel Cheney commented about many of the approved contracts for Sather AB's improvements. "There's a lot going on." He went on to list the many advancements made during the past 120 days. Contracts have been approved for the pre-detonation roof for the dining facility, the passenger terminal is seeing many improvements, $130,000 worth of fitness equipment has been purchased, Chief Master Sgt. Richard King, the group's former superintendent, worked to expand the base exchange, as well as many, many more improvements and positive changes. "There are an unbelievable amount of projects going on," the colonel stated. "A lot of projects wouldn't have happened if it weren't for the entire team doing their part." And, in early 2008, a group of active duty Airmen, Air National Guardsmen, Reserves, Army and Coalition Forces melded into the team Colonel Cheney referred. "The entire range of people who are participating in the conflict here call Sather Air Base home. We all work together to get the mission done," added Colonel Cheney. "There's a saying about deployments like this; don't count the days, make the days count." After making more than 100 days count, many Airmen leave Sather AB with experiences and memories of their hard work toward the success of OIF. "I expected the unexpected," said Tech. Sgt. Kevin Huff, 447 AEG executive assistant deployed from the 107th Airlift Wing, New York Air National Guard. "I came away with a lifetime of knowledge, friends and coworkers that I will cherish forever."