US Air Force,
Camp Taji, Iraq: Camp Taji Airmen are helping rebuild the Iraqi air force.
The camp, located approximately 20 miles northwest of Baghdad, is home to the 370th Expeditionary Training Squadron made up of officer and enlisted Airmen from various career fields who are training Iraqis in several technical training courses.
“Rebuilding the Iraqi air force is one of the most important missions we have in the country,” said Lt. Gen. Gary L. North, the U.S. Central Command Air Forces and Combined Forces Air Component commander. “As the Iraqi air force becomes more self-sufficient and takes over more of the missions our Airmen are doing, it will reduce the need for our Air Force here and will help ensure the sovereignty of the nation.”
Across several bases in Iraq, the 370th ETS' parent unit, the Coalition Air Force Transition Team, is establishing training programs covering everything needed to build an air force. The bulk of the program is at Camp Taji's Iraqi Air Force Training School. The school runs four different programs: The Air Force Academy, the Air Force Officer's Course, Basic Enlisted Training and Basic Technical Training.
“We started about 18 technical training schools that we will have going by next spring,” said Brig. Gen. Robert R. Allardice, the CAFTT commander. “We graduated people from four of these (courses) already. None of that existed in the beginning of this year.”
The academy and officer's course are both six-month long programs designed to produce commissioned officers. Basic Enlisted Training teaches drill, base defense, physical training and airmanship to the enlisted corps. Basic Technical Training prepares all the Iraqi airmen — officer candidates, warrant officer candidates and enlisted members — by providing in-depth technical training for maintenance and operations support.
Iraqi student pilots flew their first flights in new Cessna 172 aircraft Oct. 1 and their first solo flights a month later. In addition to the training taking place at Camp Taji, fully trained Iraqi helicopter crews have begun flying combat missions from the base.
“I saw a tremendous amount of pride in the eyes of the Iraqi airmen,” General North said. “They are proud of their aircraft, which are in great condition, and they are proud to be flying combat missions and integrating with the Iraqi army for the first time.”
