U.S. Air Forces Central, Baghdad Media Outreach Team

Story by Senior Airman Alyssa Miles

CAMP TAJI, Iraq -- One Airman deployed from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., advises four Iraqi life support airmen, making sure they skillfully maintain survival vests, body armor, crash helmets and night vision goggles for more than 200 Iraqi helicopter air crew members.

In addition to advising, Tech. Sgt. Kyle Richardson, 721st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron air crew flight equipment advisor, maintains the crucial equipment for coalition forces.

Previously, both life support offices were co-located on the Iraqi side of Camp Taji. Forty-five days into his deployment, the sergeant recognized the Iraqi's skills and decided they needed independence.

"I'm here for anything they need," he said. "Their previous advisor built the basics – I'm in an over watch status. Some air crew members will still look in my direction for assistance, but I direct them to my Iraqi counterparts. They can handle it."

The sergeant's confidence in his advisee's skills came soon after his arrival to the camp. Having only been in the field for two years and working with fighter systems, he says he wasn't familiar with the required head gear.

"I never worked on helo air frames," the native of Orleans, Ind., said. "As far as actual helicopter maintenance for flight equipment gear, these guys taught me. On my second day here they taught me the 120 day inspection on the helmet – the full breakdown, inspection and how to clean it. Them being able to turn around and instruct me through a language barrier made me realize they needed a sense of independence. It made me realize they are here to help me just as much as I am them. It was like for that day, our roles were switched."

However, Sgt. Richardson retains his advisor title when it comes to NVG maintenance. The system is new to the Iraqi life support crew and they may not always know exactly what is wrong with the equipment. The sergeant says NVG and supply sustainment will be two daunting tasks during his year-long deployment. Nonetheless, he has a positive outlook on the future of the Iraqi shop as they have begun to train their own Airmen.

Iraqi life support Airman Naseer Hameed feels that although there have been several challenges within their field, he and his team are making good progress and he is hopeful for their future.

Sgt. Richardson concurs.

"They've had an air force before but they haven't necessarily used this same equipment," he said. "What makes it easy is that they're really retaining what they've been taught. They're good people, and I'm here to work with them and do what I can for them. They're going to succeed – they want to do good."

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