Airmen taking on more dangerous roles in Iraq

Air Force Senior Airman Joseph Ronchetto of the 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron's Detachment 3 sits in the turret of a Humvee on Thursday in Baghdad before heading out on a mission.


Airmen taking on more dangerous roles in Iraq
By Scott Schonauer, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, November 15, 2007


BAGHDAD — The crack of a gunshot echoed across the parking lot, but nobody flinched or ran for cover.

“Probably celebratory fire,” Air Force Staff Sgt. Adam Self said.

Some Iraqi families had reason to be happy. The Army was about to release 70 Shiite detainees at Baghdad’s main bus station, and airmen from the 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron were sweeping the parking lot for explosives before the arrival.

Seconds later, more shots. But nobody was celebrating.

An airman heard the snap of a bullet come within feet of his head. Turret gunners in the Humvees sunk a little deeper into their holes to protect themselves, while airmen on foot scanned the perimeter with their rifle scopes. They searched for a sniper lurking on the ledges of dilapidated, windowless buildings.

They never found the shooter, the gunfire disappeared and the squad left without a scratch, but it illustrated the risks this squadron faces daily. While Army and Marine units have confronted similar dangers in towns across Iraq numerous times, combat is something new for airmen more accustomed to defending bases and planes.


Rest of article at: http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=50276

I understand that (some)airmen are being enticed into meeting their retirement goals by joining the Army "in lieu of" ILO.

The Air Force is reducing their manpower to save money. The savings are earmarked for newer equipment as many aircraft are older than the People who fly them.

Robbing Peter to pay Paul syndrome.