Who is a Combat Vet on here?

[Slowpoke]

I was in iraq in 05 stationed at Balad air base, then again in 07 at Kirkuk airbase. My AFSC was Air Traffic Control, it's currently what I do know with the FAA. I don't have any battle stories really, but some of the things I had seen, heard, and controlled in the air was unreal. Like scrambling air support to assist boots on the ground troops in heated conflict, and have to move 20+ commercial airliners out of thier way. Once had a flight of A10's proceed VFR to a zoned hotspot to provide air support, the flight leader told me over the radio he could see the color of a turkish A319 pilot's eyes. Obviously he was joking to an extent, on the radar he showed with 100 vertically from the A319. In ATC terms, that's WHY to close.

 

[AmericanSoldier]

i went to balad airforce base after an ied blast..spent a lil while in the "warrior lounge" there are sooo many hotties there its craziness

 

[Warhellride]

I've done 11 years in the Navy (nuclear engineering laboratory technician), and while I've never actually seen direct combat on the ground I've been over there several times on a carrier. I can't even imagine what some of you guys have gone through, but I'm proud to have helped provide air support for some of it.

 

[03GTPLE]

I had a great time in Iraq. It was tough at times, but I still can't wait to get back!

Warhellride, I'm not so sure I'd want to spend that much time on a ship.... being in one place and never being able to leave.... yikes man, I find that rough. At least I was able to drive or fly away from a FOB if I needed something to do. I did get to work with a lot of Navy and Air Force while was there, and not just EOD types.



AmericanSoldier, under those circumstances a trip to Balad isn't worth it. ...but did you ever make it to the pool, if so, did you make it there when swimsuits were still permitted?... those were the days!
I had a platoon there, so I was at Balad every three or four days before I relocated.