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By Staff Sgt. Don Branum
332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq – The future of Iraq is in good hands - the hands of Iraqi airmen who are determined to build and defend a new future for their children.
A photographer from our public affairs team and I flew to Taji Air Base, Iraq, Sept. 11, 2008. We weren't entirely sure what to expect as our UH-60 Blackhawk touched down on Taji's short runway, but we met up with a U.S. Air Forces Central video and photo team and got straight to work.
What we saw were Iraqi airmen dedicated to rebuilding their air force and their country. In less than two years, they've grown a helicopter force from a handful of pilots to four complete flying squadrons, including one special operations squadron. They maintain, train on and fly their own equipment - Mi-17 Hips and UH-1P Hueys. American Airmen assigned to the 770th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron step in to help when needed and offer tips based on how the U.S. Air Force operates.
It's not a perfect system. Airmen on both sides have to overcome the language barrier. Many of the 770th AEAS' Airmen have learned some Arabic since arriving about five months ago, and many of the Iraqi airmen speak at least some English. What's more, the Iraqis have an eagerness to learn that easily overcomes any barriers.
"The younger Iraqis come to us on a daily basis and ask us, 'Please sign us off on this task,'" said Tech. Sgt. Lee Everhart, an Mi-17 air adviser with the 770th AEAS who is deployed from the 653rd Combat Life Support Squadron at Robins Air Force Base, Ga. "It's unbelievable how far they've come in the five months we've been here."
The Iraqi and American Airmen share a close bond due to spending time together both on and off duty. The Iraqis gladly share their meals, and the Americans just as gladly share information and expertise. I spoke with an Iraqi helicopter pilot, Lt. Col. Ahmed Thwinee, who flies for 15th Squadron. He is a veteran of the Iran-Iraq War and both conflicts with U.S. forces and rejoined the Iraqi air force when the government reconstituted it.
"Our pilots had good jobs but left them to rejoin the Iraqi air force," the colonel said. "There's nothing like flying, but flying to protect people is the best flying."
He and his airmen have adopted the Americans with whom they work. The Iraqi people now understand that Americans came into Iraq to save its people from a regime that destroyed their fortunes, their culture and their lives, Ahmed said.
"We are grateful for the Americans and their families back home," Ahmed said. "Their families miss them when they come here. They're still in our memories and hearts. We will never forget them, and we hope to see them another time as tourists in our country."
Ahmed is one of many Iraqi airmen working to rebuild Iraq as a free nation. I look forward to the day not far in the future when his vision is a reality.
| Date Taken: | 09.21.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 09.21.2008 19:03 |
| Story ID: | 23965 |
| Location: | BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 191 |
| Downloads: | 173 |
This work, Fledgling Iraqi nation in good hands, by Donald Branum, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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