Globemaster takes KFOR cars to Iraq

A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transported the cars which were bound for NATO use inside the Green Zone.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Paul Thibodeau, Military Assistant to the KFOR Chief of Staff, said the whole process moved rather quickly. A request for unarmored vehicles came in from NATO Allied Joint Force Command in Naples, Italy. HQ KFOR had four vehicles that were mechanically sound, but weren't being used anymore. The whole process started slightly less than a week before the C-17 arrived to pick up the merchandise.

"There's really an enormous cost savings by sending these vehicles to Iraq," said Colonel Thibodeau. "The money it costs to have a C-17 stop here and pick up the vehicles is really a drop in the bucket compared to having to buy new vehicles in Iraq."

Colonel Thibodeau said the vehicles were older, but their regular maintenance kept them in good working order. Since KFOR would have most likely sent them to an auction to be sold for very little money, NATO realized the opportunity to save some cash.

Once in Iraq, the vehicles will be used for the NATO training mission there, said U.S. Air Force Captain Terry White, NATO AJFC logistics. Captain White said he normally works with getting passengers places, but shipping the cars to Baghdad won't be a problem with the capable C-17.

"It's the safest means to fly troops in and out," said Capt. White. "Using it to ship the cars won't be a problem."

One of the C-17's loadmasters on this trip, Airman 1st Class Joshua Jackson, 21st Air Logistics Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., said helping the effort in Iraq makes him feel good. He also said this isn't his first trip into the country.

"This is my fourth mission in the (area of responsibility)," said Airman Jackson. "This is the first trip there for one of the other loadmasters. It's more exciting for him."

For anyone needing to get into and out of Iraq, the C-17 isn't a bad choice of aircraft. The C-17 is the U.S. Air Force's newest, most flexible cargo aircraft. According to the Air Force fact sheet, the plane's design allows it to operate through small, austere airfields. The Globemaster III can take off and land on runways as short as 3,500 feet by 90 feet wide. The aircraft has a maximum payload of 170,900 pounds (77,518 kg), which makes the weight of four cars pretty light.

(Story by Tech. Sgt. Jason Smith, U.S. Air Force HQ KFOR PIO)