The Last Way Station of the War: 927th reservist plays key role in Iraq drawdown

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Shawn Rhodes
  • 827th Air Refueling Wing
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  In 2003, Nasiriyah, Iraq was one of the first battle zones of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Eight years later, an air base outside the city was the last way station for U.S. troops as they made their way to Kuwait in the south and the families that waited for them in the states. When seven tons of cargo and 40,000 troops were leaving Iraq, they relied on the leadership and dedication of one man to ensure their safe return. The man responsible for the operating the flightline was Tampa reservist Col. Ted Mathews.
 
Mathews is a traditional reservist with the 927th Air Refueling Wing here. Unlike his active-duty counterparts, Mathews serves in the Air Force and has a full-time civilian job. Like his active-duty comrades, he is also eligible for combat deployments. He returned last December after a 9-month tour where he commanded the 407th Air Expeditionary Group. It was this group that was charged with running the flightline and air operations for Ali Air Base, in addition to training and mentoring the Iraqi Air Force unit there.

"Before I deployed, I had a lot of concerns," said Mathews. "I knew the lives of those I commanded depended on me."

Mathews took command of the 407th AEG and immediately realized he would have to work as the middleman between multiple cultures - the Iraqi culture and the different American military cultures.

"The Army is set up for and used to doing without ... to roughing it. To make sure we had electricity and water at the very end of our time there, I had to make sure our Air Force civil engineers learned how to make water so we would have it to drink," Mathews said.
While everyone spoke the same language within the American services there, the language barrier and cultural differences between the 407th AEG and the Iraqi Air Force unit there was another challenge altogether.

"It was hard to motivate their soldiers and airmen. Our challenge was driving them to be self-reliant and self-sufficient. I think they're going to be successful," Mathews said.
Because of their key location and pivotal role in the drawdown, all of Mathews' troops were targets for insurgents. While they worked around the clock to funnel all the troops and supplies through the last way station, they had to deal with the combat going on inside their own walls.

"We weren't safe there. We were rocketed more in the time I was there than in the three years prior," Mathews commented. Upon his return to the states he added, "It's great to wake up every morning and not have to worry about a rocket attack."

Mathews had the opportunity to address some junior troops of the reserve unit during one of their unit training assemblies. These are the days of the month when reservists put on their uniform, go to their home station, and work to keep themselves ready to fight America's battles. He encouraged them to take their training seriously and to be proud of the role they play in the military.

"Every second in this building training and every moment in the field, you should know what's going on," Mathews told the troops gathered around him. "It's quite an experience for a 19 or 20 year-old to take a rocket attack. They did not falter, and they did not fail. These young Airmen had to train another military to do their jobs on the airfield, and provide them with the knowledge and skills they'll need to succeed in combat."

Mathews said that he could not tell the difference between reservists, active duty, or National Guard troops. They were all Americans, and all working toward the same goal. Although many reservists are used to serving in the military one weekend a month, many like Mathews are being asked to take on a heavier and heavier load.

"The days of the 'one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer' still fit some of our reservists, but typically the nation requires much more. Colonel Mathews, for example, was gone for nearly nine months, and that's a high price for an employer," said Col. Dave Pavey, the commander of the 927th Air Refueling Wing. "It's important that our community partners understand the importance of the new operational role we've asked our reservists to assume. It's not just 'one weekend a month' any longer."

With drawdowns in Iraq and also in the defense budget, Pavey believes reservists like Mathews will be the future of a successful Air Force.

"Our folks meet all the same mobility requirements at a fraction of the cost of the active duty," Pavey said. "As the U.S. goes into an increasingly austere budgetary cycle, they look for where they can get the best bang for the buck. The Air Force Reserve is an outstanding value in that regard."

Like all servicemembers, Mathews had to do more with less. He began his deployment commanding hundreds of people, but as the numbers dwindled and the mission requirements increased, Mathews had to make sure he could still accomplish his mission.

"We started out with 300 people, and by the end we only had 62. We all had to work together to make sure those troops and cargo made it out," Mathews said.
Pavey believes this success was due to the hard work and determination of the troops and Mathews' dedication to them.

"Mathew's desire to protect his Airmen was second only to his passion for successfully completing the U.S. mission in Iraq," Pavey said. "His strong character and sense of family got him through that. He was the right officer at the right time to be there, and he safely brought home all his Airmen."

What Mathews will remember most about his deployment are the many faces of his troops and the great work they did for the Iraqi people and for America.

"I'll always remember how hard they worked, and how privileged and honored I was to be their commander," Mathews said. "People need to be proud of the young Americans in the service. Their professionalism, dedication, and sacrifices help to preserve all our freedoms and our way of life."