News>U.S. honors 10- year partnership with Kyrgyz Republic
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A joint color guard marches during the opening of the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing 10-year anniversary ceremony Dec.21, 2011, at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. The ceremony honored a decade of partnership between the U.S. and Kyrgyz Republic in support of international efforts in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
Senior Airman Jennifer Monday, a member of the 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, leads a joint color guard during the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing 10-year anniversary ceremony, Dec. 21, 2011, at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. More than 300 people attended the celebration including American and Kyrgyz service members along with the Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and the Commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command, Lt. Gen. David Goldfein.(U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Tracy DeMarco)
Attending the Transit Center at Manas 10th anniversary celebration in Kyrgyzstan, Lt. Col. Robert Ricker, 376th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron commander, shares a laugh with Abdimalilk Busurmankalov, Manas International Airport vice president for operations, Dec. 21, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Tracy DeMarco)
Kyrgyz Republic Army Col. Suerkulov Kazakbaevich, Ministry of Defense first deputy speaks to the audience Dec.21, 2011, during the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing 10-year anniversary ceremony at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. More than 300 people attended the ceremony honoring a decade of partnership between the U.S. and Kyrgyz Republic that supports international efforts in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
Col. James Jacobson, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing commander attends the 10-year anniversary of the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Dec. 21, 2011. Sitting next to Jacobson, retired Lt. Gen. Chris Kelly, the first commander of the 376th AEW in 2001, waits to speak during the event along with Lt. Gen. David Goldfein, U.S. Air Forces Central Command commander, and U.S. Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic Pamela Spratlen. The ceremony included a joint U.S. and Kyrgyz color guard and a performance by local Kyrgyz folk singers.(U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Tracy DeMarco)
Two Kyrgyz folk singers perform during the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing 10-year anniversary ceremony, Dec. 21, 2011, at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. The vocalists played komuz's, the nation's traditional guitar, and wore traditional dress while singing impromptu lyrics describing the past 10 years of the Transit Center. More than 300 people attended the celebration including American and Kyrgyz service members along with Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and the Commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command, Lt. Gen. David Goldfein.(U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Tracy DeMarco)
A service member records Kyrgyz folk singers with his phone Dec. 21, 2011, during the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing 10-year anniversary ceremony at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. More than 300 people attended the ceremony honoring a decade of partnership between the U.S. and Kyrgyz Republic that supports international efforts in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
Lt. Gen. David Goldfein, U.S. Air Forces Central Command commander, during the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing 10-year anniversary ceremony at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. More than 300 people attended the ceremony honoring a decade of partnership between the U.S. and Kyrgyz Republic that supports international efforts in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley attends the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing 10-year anniversary ceremony Dec.21, 2011, along with 376th AEW Airmen and Kyrgyz guess at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. More than 300 people attended the ceremony honoring the decade of partnership between the U.S and Kyrgyz Republic. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
Retired Lt. Gen. Christopher Kelly sheds a tear at his speech at the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing 10-year anniversary ceremony at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. Kelly was the first commander of the 376th AEW in 2001. More than 300 people attended the ceremony honoring a decade of partnership between the U.S. and Kyrgyz Republic that supports international efforts in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
Following the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing 10-year anniversary ceremony, 376th AEW Commander Col. James Jacobson speaks with the Defense Attache' of the Chinese Embassy, Senior Col. Tsui Enxiong, Dec. 21, 2011, at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. The celebration was attended by more than 300 people including American and Kyrgyz service members and distinguished guests. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Tracy DeMarco)
Lt. Gen. David Goldfein, United States Central Command commander, shakes hands with Chinese Embassy Defense Attache' of the Senior Col. Tsui Enxiong at Pete's Place Dec. 21, 2011, during the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing 10-year anniversary ceremony post-reception at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. More than 300 people attended the ceremony honoring the decade of partnership between the U.S and Kyrgyz Republic. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Col. James Jacobson, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, mingles with Chinese Embassy Defense Attache' of the Senior Col. Tsui Enxiong at Pete's Place Dec.21, 2011, during the 376th AEW 10-year anniversary ceremony post-reception at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. The ceremony honored a decade of partnership between the U.S. and Kyrgyz Republic in support of international efforts in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
Lt. Gen. David Goldfein, United States Central Command commander, mingles with Chinese Embassy Defense Attache' of the Senior Col. Tsui Enxiong at Pete's Place Dec.21, 2011, during the 376th AEW 10-year anniversary ceremony post-reception at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. The ceremony honored a decade of partnership between the U.S. and Kyrgyz Republic in support of international efforts in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley talks to leadership of the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing in a yurt Dec. 21, 2011, at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. Donley is visiting Airmen in the area of responsibility this holiday season and attended the 376th AEW 10-year anniversary ceremony. A yurt is a traditional tent made of felt, mats and carpets with a fireplace located in the center and the interior walls are decorated with straw mats. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
by Senior Airman Lynsie Nichols
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
12/23/2011 - TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan -- A ceremony honoring 10 years of partnership between the United States and Kyrgyz Republic in support of international efforts in Afghanistan took place here Dec. 21.
More than 300 men and women from the Transit Center and distinguished Kyrgyz guests attended to hear about improvements that have been made since the opening of the installation and watch performances by a joint color guard and Kyrgyz folk singers.
The first speaker was Kyrgyz Republic Col. Suerkulov Kazakbaevich, Minister of Defense first deputy.
"I want to extend my appreciation to the men and women here at the Transit Center at Manas; unity is our friend," Kazabaevich said.
The U.S. Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic Pamela Spratlen also shared her words of thanks.
"It is a great honor to be here and see all of you who are serving your countries; you are the ones defending and protecting us," said Spratlen. "I want to express my appreciation to you all."
"I'm honored to celebrate the continued partnership between the U.S. and the Kyrgyz Republic. This is a special day on which we commemorate our many achievements and look forward to our future of cooperation," said Lt. Gen. Goldfein, U.S. Air Forces Central Commander.
Lt. Gen. (retired) Christopher Kelly, the first commander of the 376th AEW talked about the first day he arrived at the Transit Center.
"From the moment I got off the plane, I knew my life would change forever," he said.
Kelly went on to describe how he was escorted downtown to a meeting at the U.S. Embassy. The meeting, he explained, was the very first step in establishing a close working relationship with the ambassador and the country team, the type of relationship that has endured today.
"From the very moment we arrived, we all knew that we would become a part of what was to be the very enduring partnership between our nations," Kelly said. "The 376th AEW has played a huge role in the relationship between the Kyrgyz Republic and the United States of America."
