What part does the Air Force play in iraq?

Question

I was thinking about joining up. I hear all the time from people saying "the air force is the easiest of all the military branches. They don't do much unless you're a pilot".

But really, what's the truth to this? What do they do? Are there air force ground teams in iraq?

Answer 1

I'm an Air Force cop (Security Forces) and we don't just sit around in Iraq.
SF troops guard bases (Air Base Defense), do detainee ops, and usually convoy security. (Make sure the roads that convoys will be traveling on are safe and clear.)

Don't let anyone tell you that we don't do anything in Iraq.
If you want to say that, go talk to all the Airman injured by IEDs or Mortars, or go tell the families of KIA Airmen that they're sons/daughters didn't do anything in Iraq.

Answer 2

All of this really depends on your job. The AF does have ground forces in Iraq: Security Forces, Explosives Ordinance Disposal. On occasion someone not in a Security Forces is made an augmentee. For the most part, the Air Force provides support and intelligence work. If you're sent to Iraq while in the Air Force, you may not be dodging IED's but that doesn't mean you'll be doing nothing. At a minimum you'll be providing some type of support to allow the fighting forces to do their job.

Answer 3

My husband has been to Iraq many times for the AF and it is no picnic. He is a Crew Chief and spends 14 hour days fixing and inspecting Apecial Operations aircraft in Iraq. The last time he was there a mortar landed less than 25 feet from where he was standing. Thank God it was a dud. This fall he is going back to Iraq to work patrol for 6 month. He is actually working outside of his AFSC to carry a gun and do perimeter patrols.
The AF is not "easy" though some jobs are inherently easier than others. If you work Admin., you job is alot easier than Security Forces. You don't just work 9-5 and go home. Some jobs work 12 hour shifts, some work 0600-1500, some 1500-2400, and some 2300-0700. It all depends on the job and the needs of the AF at that time.

Answer 4

There are Air Force Combat Controllers on the ground with the Infantry but short of that Security Forces, Explosive Ordinace Disposal, and Para Rescue your chances of seeing direct combat are small. We have a lot of Air Force support but they're usually in the green zone or a neighboring country like Kuwait or Qatar. That doesn't mean they are any safer though. The key word there was direct my lil bro is in the Air Force and a friend of his caught a mortor in Iraq a few months ago.

Answer 5

Right now, I'm stationed in Kuwait, in support of OIF. Alot of people think the AF has it easy, but they are very mis-informed. I was Security Forces for 13 years before medically cross training into Aircraft Maintenance. 8 of those years as SF, I spent as a Combat Arms Instructor. We have a multitude of specialties in Iraq right now, working alongside the Army, Navy, and Marines. From Security Forces (to include Combat Arms and K-9), to OSI, Combat Controllers, Comabat Weather, PJ's, EOD, Red Horse (Combat CE). The list goes on and on. Before you talk, you better know!!

Answer 6

Being in the Air Force is not that easy. If you are an engineers, think of all the part of a jet you need to learn, there millions. the Air Force usually clean up concentrated area of troops, making it a lot safer for solider to come in later. the USAF also provided aerial reconnaissance in form of UAV.

Answer 7

Of course there are. Wherever there are Air Force aircraft there will be ground teams. But they are pretty much on the air bases. You have perimeter security, the maintainence forces for the aircraft personnel to support the squadrons, cooks etc. About the only thing the Air Force doesn't have is personnel actually doing patrols in the cities and on the roads.

Answer 8

Cranknbank9....said it best....I'm so sick of this stereotype "the Air Force doesn't do much unless you're a pilot"....I'm a serviced disabled veteran, medically retired from the US Air Force...served 12 years, served 2 years each in support of Operation IRAQI FREDDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM, not to mention deployments in support of OPERATION ALLIED FORCE, DESERT FOX and SOUTHERN WATCH, also, served 5 years in Korea.....retired Ground-Based Forward Air Controller (GFAC)....death on call!

Answer 9

Lets see, there’s intelligence, reconnaissance, operations, med-evac, close air support, precision bombing, forward air control, combat search + rescue, community actions, transport, EOD, security, ordnance, logistics, ER hospitals/medical care, ELINT, satellite surveillance, UAV operations, maintenance, planning, civil engineering, special operations, air to air refueling, JSTARS, air traffic control, combat air controllers, AWACS, mine clearing, fire fighting, and there are some 15,000 Air Force personnel driving trucks for the Army on convoys! And this is just a partial list.

Answer 10

What happens if u . s . is going to conflict with Iran or yet another u . s . and your unit is termed to serve? you will help the U. S. via killing your brothers and sisters in Islam. If something this Ummah desires to do away with those sects, open up Muslim lands borderless, % yet another Caliph and style their very very own military in case the international desperate to attack Muslims.