By Staff Sgt. Amber Emery
Multi-National Division - Central
BAGHDAD – The Iraqi air force is one of the oldest air forces in the Middle East. Recent struggles weakened its capabilities, but now, the IqAF is moving once again toward a credible force capable of homeland defense with assistance from the Coalition Air Force Training Team.
The CAFTT is a compilation of U.S. Air Force, Navy, Army and Coalition Expeditionary Airmen who have been advising, training and aiding Iraqi Airmen since 2004.
"We are taking advantage of their expertise because the U.S. and British Air Force have been around for a long time," said Maj. Gen. Qa'id Qaresh, IqAF director of operations. "We need all the help we can get . . . (because) the Air Force is a very integral part in combating terrorism."
The 23 squadron was the first component of the IqAF; they conducted their first successful missions in 2005 using C-130s to provide transportation to the Iraqi military.
"They are still in the process of learning all of their requirements. They are not completely capable yet, we are still training them . . . but there is success on a routine basis," said Maj. Timothy Teets, air advisor for the Iraqi Air Operations Center.
The CAFTT's goal is to build a solid foundation for the future growth of IqAF through support, planning, managing, funding and implementation of elements essential to a modern air force in the region.
"We are training the Iraqi army in areas such as weather, maintenance, intelligence and logistics - pretty much every function we have in our Air Force we are teaching them," said Maj. Kingston Lampley, air advisor for the Iraqi Air Operations Center.
The IqAF is small but has almost doubled its number of personnel and aircraft in the past year. It is now completing a variety of missions, with logistical assistance from the CAFTT.
"They are already contributing to the counter terrorism fight. With more resources and more time, they will be able to contribute even more," said Lampley, a Bradenton, Fla. native.
"I feel good about all the accomplishments they have made. I am encouraged that they are as motivated as they are. In many cases they are risking their lives just to come to work, but they still have enough patriotism in their country and faith in their people to want to build an air force to protect their homeland. So based on that, I feel confident we are going to be successful in our endeavor here."
| Date Taken: | 06.24.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 06.24.2008 10:25 |
| Story ID: | 20802 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 276 |
| Downloads: | 207 |
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