We departed Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, on an alternate runway because the prime runway was out of service due to a C-17 Globemaster’s wheels-up landing (meaning they didn’t use the landing gear) the day before. We flew for about five hours aboard a C-130 Hercules to Qatar. After landing at Al Udeid Air Base, our group traveled to Camp Al Saliya. One function of Camp Al Saliya (CAS) is to serve as a place for R&R (Rest and Relaxation) from combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Like many in the camp, we watched part or all of the Super Bowl live Monday morning from 2:00 to 6:00 a.m. local time. On Monday morning, we spoke with the commander of CAS and then went to the DFAC (Dining FACility) for a presentation at lunch. At the DFAC, we had a “Meet & Greet” where we signed photos and got the chance to personally talk with the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines.
In the afternoon, we returned to Al Udeid Air Base where we received a tour of the flight line (where the planes are parked) and briefings from the Expeditionary Wing and the Combat Air Operations Center.
Several hundred airmen attended the Coalition Compound Theater for an STS-126 briefing and question and answer period. Afterwards the crew participated at a “Meet & Greet” at the open air Memorial Plaza. Hundreds of people from various military branches and coalition countries participated in the event.
Our time in Qatar was very beneficial in understanding the support role of operations being conducted in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our crew was well received, and this gave us the chance to salute our service members in a job well done.
–Col. Eric Boe, STS-126 pilot (USAF)
