U.S. Airmen build relationships with Iraqi airmen through communication

Photo By Johnny Saldivar | Air Force Tech Sgt. Jeffrey Scott, Iraq Training and Advisory Mission – Air Force A6...... read more read more

Photo By Johnny Saldivar | Air Force Tech Sgt. Jeffrey Scott, Iraq Training and Advisory Mission – Air Force A6 communications advisor, assists an Iraqi air force officer with programming a Falcon 2 multi-band radio, Nov. 20. Scott ensures Iraqi communications airmen properly configure and maintain radios that allow the Iraqi air operations center to communicate with their aircraft and bases throughout the country. Scott is deployed from Pope Air Force Base, N.C., and hails from Steubenville, Ohio.  see less | View Image Page

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

11.28.2009

Story by Senior Airman Alyssa Miles 

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

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CAMP VICTORY, Iraq — Iraq Training and Advisory Mission Airmen attached to the 321st Air Expeditionary Advisory Group are advising members of the Iraqi air force on the day-to-day communication procedures within their air operations center.

The Airmen's mission is to help the IAF build operational command and control capabilities to translate air force headquarters and national guidance into operational guidance for individual squadrons.

"The AOC is the organization that takes taskings for the air force," said Maj. Russ Driggers, deputy chief of the Iraqi AOC military training team. "They transmit and organize those taskings and then transmit them to squadrons to fly in support of current operations. We are making sure that the IAOC is properly equipped and that they have the right processes to be able to execute the direction they're given from the Ministry of Defense and Iraqi AF commander."

Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Scott, ITAM Air Force AOC A-6 advisor deployed from Pope Air Force Base, N.C., works with the A6 communication director to ensure he has oversight across the Iraqi AF on their current system status.

"I make sure everything he has is operational and fully functioning for capabilities they need," he said.

In addition, Scott uses a method of training common to those in the U.S. Air Force to teach IAOC airmen how to maintain their equipment.

"I go by training records -- I use them as a guideline on what they should know," the Steubenville, Ohio, native said. "I pull out a blank Air Force Form 623, and show them that these are things they need to do on their equipment to maintain the systems throughout its life cycle, so they're not just using equipment until it breaks and throwing it away."

The major, who is deployed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, says the skills the sergeant is sharing with the Iraqi airmen are crucial to the success of the IAOC.

"The work he does is really the backbone of any effective air force," he said. "You have to be able to take the direction provided by higher headquarters and translate that into taskings that are transmitted to the squadrons. Also, we're trying to build a command and control capability — you have to be able to talk to airborne aircraft, and communicate changes to stay up-to-date as a mission develops. The communication infrastructure is a crucial piece to being able to make that happen. Iraq is in the beginning stages of establishing that infrastructure and Scott's advisory efforts directly help the Iraqis move in the right direction."

Iraqi AF Maj. Mainea Salman, communications specialist, has been working within the IAOC for more than a year keeping the Iraqi defense network, radios and computers working, and is appreciative for the assistance that has been given by the American Airmen.

"I'm very comfortable working with Scott and I'm very glad that I got a chance to learn from him," Salman said. "We're doing very good and I'm looking forward to making our AOC better."

Although assisting the Iraqi airmen is an important task, Maj. Driggers says a healthy relationship between the two forces is imperative.

"In the end, I think the most important thing is not going to be whether they have this radio system running perfectly by the time we leave, it will be the relationships we build with them," he said. "The relationships we build are going to pay out in the long run in terms of a healthy relationship between us and their air force. These opportunities — the problems we work through and celebrations we have together when we have successes — they help build a tight relationship. That is the key reason and benefit of us being here."