My week in tent city was hell. I had shampoo and styling gel stolen(God knows what else), I could not sleep at all since people were entering and leaving all day and night, had to share community showers and bathrooms and could not bring any laptops and bags into chow hall for security reasons. So in other words if you are a high tech guy like myself and already had stuff stolen you are basically screwed.
To touch on the highlights of my stay at Ali Al Salem, I found out that I can get full military discount on a vehicle since I am working for Dept of Defense. I already have my eye on the Jeep Wrangler X. The base had the Australian Air force which was always pleasant to hear the cheerful voices on the Aussies even though their camo uniforms look like something a girl would sleep in. The MWR (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation) was a happening spot for us. It is what the US military uses for a recreation center. There a TVs, ping pong, pool tables, foos ball and PCs to use. Since I am with a team of tech guys, we took over corner of the MWR and built our own command center. We had more laptops and gear there that the military guys started to call us the IT Dept. We were having troops ask if they could buy WiFi from us. Too bad Wataniya owns the WiFi. It was pretty funny. I wished I could have taken some pictures but photography is not allowed at Ali Al Salem.
I got to go to Kuwait City to attend meetings at my company's villa. Our villa is located in a residential neighborhood and I got a chance to see everyday life for the locals. We had our lunch catered by an American girl that specializes in soul food. I had the best fried fish and the fried chicken was great too. It was neat to see Kuwait from outside the base. While driving to and from the villa, it was weird to see large tents in the middle of the desert. I was told that these are weekend tents for Kuwaitis. On the weekend they have their servants bring all the luxuries in life to these tents. Inside the tents are large screen TVs, expensive Persian rugs, and kingsize beds. Every once in awhile I would see a lamb/goat dead in the sand. I was told that this was a typical sacrificial practice done in Kuwait while visiting thier tents.
I did not take any pictures but I have add pictures to my blog by utilizing pictures that are already available on the WWW. The above pictures show the tents we stayed in while Ali Al Salem.
I did not take any pictures but I have add pictures to my blog by utilizing pictures that are already available on the WWW. The above pictures show the tents we stayed in while Ali Al Salem.
Ali Al Salem Air Base
(IATA: OKAS) is an airfield situated in Kuwait approximately 23 miles from the Iraqi border. The airfield is owned by the Kuwaiti Government and during Operation Southern Watch and Operation Telic / Operation Iraqi Freedom hosted Royal Air Force, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps personnel and aircraft. Since those operations, the base has been returned to the control of the Kuwaiti Government, with the USAF continuing to maintain a presence alongside their Kuwait Air Force counterparts. The principal USAF unit on base is the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing (386 AEW).
Recent History
In 1990 the base was the first to be overrun by Saddam's troops. Fighting at that initial battle lasted for less than thirty minutes as most of the Kuwaiti military chose to flee rather than face almost certain defeat. A small number of Kuwaiti regulars, staff officers, and the base general stayed to fight. Upon discovery by the Iraqi military, the Kuwaiti general was hanged from the base flagpole by Saddam's troops. New flagpoles have since been installed, however as of December 2007 the original pole still stands. The remaining Kuwaiti military personnel were lined up outside the old Kuwaiti officers' club and shot. While no longer used, the building and bullet holes remain.
Significant bomb damage incurred during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait is still visible 15 years after the liberation of Ali Al Salem.
In 1990 the base was the first to be overrun by Saddam's troops. Fighting at that initial battle lasted for less than thirty minutes as most of the Kuwaiti military chose to flee rather than face almost certain defeat. A small number of Kuwaiti regulars, staff officers, and the base general stayed to fight. Upon discovery by the Iraqi military, the Kuwaiti general was hanged from the base flagpole by Saddam's troops. New flagpoles have since been installed, however as of December 2007 the original pole still stands. The remaining Kuwaiti military personnel were lined up outside the old Kuwaiti officers' club and shot. While no longer used, the building and bullet holes remain.
Significant bomb damage incurred during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait is still visible 15 years after the liberation of Ali Al Salem.
Prior to 1990, the French, under contract, built large reinforced concrete hardened aircraft storage (HAS) bunkers for the Kuwaiti Air Force. The French told the Kuwaitis that the structures were impenetrable. After Iraq took over the base, they moved the Kuwaiti aircraft and parked the Iraqi aircraft in the hangars. The French impenetrable claim turned out to be wrong when the US and allied forces, in the opening hours of desert storm, punched through the concrete bunkers. The Kuwaitis are still involved in legal suits over the "impenetrable clause of the contract." The French claim that they had no way of foreseeing that the US had invented bunker busters - some say that the French intended for the bunkers to protect against Soviet-procured Iraqi weapons. You can see one of the "HAS" bunkers and the destruction done by the bunker busters on this page.
RAF Use
The RAF operated out of AAS from late 1998, just before Operation Desert Fox. The RAF detachment consisted of various non-formed units and a rotating Squadron of Panavia Tornado GR1As and later Tornado GR4s. The base was rapidly expanded in early 2003 to base the Joint Helicopter Command assets prior to start of Operation Telic, the British designation for the US designated Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The RAF operated out of AAS from late 1998, just before Operation Desert Fox. The RAF detachment consisted of various non-formed units and a rotating Squadron of Panavia Tornado GR1As and later Tornado GR4s. The base was rapidly expanded in early 2003 to base the Joint Helicopter Command assets prior to start of Operation Telic, the British designation for the US designated Operation Iraqi Freedom.
During the war, the RAF amalgamated five Tornado GR4 Squadrons based at AAS to form the Ali Al Salem Combat Air Wing, commanded by Wing Commander Paddy Teakle OBE (OC 31 'Goldstars' Squadron). He was awarded the DSO for his leadership.
The RAF had relocated to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar by 2004.
Current Status
This base now hosts several United States Air Force tenant units, principal among them the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing. Their ongoing mission is in support of Iraqi Freedom. Their main task is to refuel, repair and provide general support for aircraft in transit to Iraq.
Ali Al Salem Air Base, also known colloquially by USAF personnel as "The Rock", is also home to Ali Al Salem Kuwaiti Air Base, the Army LSA (Life Support Area)and the U.S. Navy Seabee's Camp Moreell. The Army LSA and Camp Moreell are used as a transient point for military personnel going in and out of the Middle East (Afghanistan, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain) and Africa (namely Djibouti). US Navy Customs also works from a compound within the LSA, their mission being to provide customs and agricultural inspections for all Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and civilians returning to the United States. US Military forces do daily convoys near and within Iraq in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Being the closest air base to the border of Iraq, "The Rock" and the "LSA" provide a key location for allied forces to provide support for troops in southern Iraq.
External Links
Airport information for OKAS at World Aero Data. Data current as of October 2006.
Account of the base commander's role in the 1990 invasion
Ali Al Salem at GlobalSecurity.org
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Al_Salem_Air_Base"
The RAF had relocated to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar by 2004.
Current Status
This base now hosts several United States Air Force tenant units, principal among them the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing. Their ongoing mission is in support of Iraqi Freedom. Their main task is to refuel, repair and provide general support for aircraft in transit to Iraq.
Ali Al Salem Air Base, also known colloquially by USAF personnel as "The Rock", is also home to Ali Al Salem Kuwaiti Air Base, the Army LSA (Life Support Area)and the U.S. Navy Seabee's Camp Moreell. The Army LSA and Camp Moreell are used as a transient point for military personnel going in and out of the Middle East (Afghanistan, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain) and Africa (namely Djibouti). US Navy Customs also works from a compound within the LSA, their mission being to provide customs and agricultural inspections for all Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and civilians returning to the United States. US Military forces do daily convoys near and within Iraq in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Being the closest air base to the border of Iraq, "The Rock" and the "LSA" provide a key location for allied forces to provide support for troops in southern Iraq.
External Links
Airport information for OKAS at World Aero Data. Data current as of October 2006.
Account of the base commander's role in the 1990 invasion
Ali Al Salem at GlobalSecurity.org
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Al_Salem_Air_Base"
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