Iraqi air force makes strides toward transition

  • Published
  • By Army Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp
  • 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
CAMP TAJI, Iraq --  An Iraqi air force officer cadet class will soon walk across the stage here, picking up their diplomas and their commissions as second lieutenants. 

In preparation for their graduation, the soon- be officers took time out of their busy class room schedule to pick up a special issue of uniforms at one of the central issuing facilities here Aug. 28. 

"You can see the pride in their eyes," said Capt. Alisa Thomas, an instructor for the Coalition Air Force Transition Team, or CAFTT, 370th Expeditionary Training Squadron. 
"They're getting a nice new set of uniforms with their new officer rank sewn on them. They're definitely excited and they're going to be looking sharp on graduation day." 

Out of this first class to graduate from Camp Taji's Iraqi Air Force Academy, four of them
will go to Iraqi pilot school in Kirkuk, while others will pursue engineering and maintenance officer positions within the new Iraqi Air Force. 

Yet one thing is certain, once these cadets graduate Sept. 12, all of them will play a pivotal role in aiding in the transition of the Iraqi air force, said Capt. Kyle Grygo, the flight commander and a CAFTT instructor.
 
"We see them taking the lessons we've taught them and using their skills to where we can eventually transition to handing over air sovereignty to them again," Captain Grygo said. "This will be an incredible opportunity for them, having a direct hand in building their country by rebuilding their air force." 

Six U.S. Air Force captains have been training the primary instruction for the cadets with classes such as fundamentals of flight and basic officer indoctrination courses. U.S. Air Force enlisted Airmen taught the cadets about drill and ceremony, security training, weapons familiarization, field training, self aid and other basic military training skills. 

The six-month course is broken up into two iterations with the first three-month block concentrating on basic officer candidate courses while the other three months are dedicated to fundamentals of flight. 

For Tech Sgt. Kevan Dent, also an instructor with the CAFTT, the experience of training the cadets has been worthwhile. 

"There have definitely been a lot of challenges but they have come a long way," Sergeant Dent said. "They're doing a great job." Sergeant Dent has been training the cadets in basic marksmanship, how to break down their weapons, perform maintenance and field training such as security and first aid. 

"In order to break up the monotony of training in the classroom, we've been doing a lot more hands-on training," Sergeant Dent said. 

As the classes continue to rotate through the academy, Captain Grygo said he believes each rotation of new students will leave a lasting impression on his fellow air force co-workers and subordinates. 

"I think that the officers and enlisted airmen will see, through the example of the cadets, that there are plenty of good Iraqis out there," Captain Grygo said. "Even though it's dangerous for these cadets to be a part of this, they want to take a role in the building of a free Iraq." 

Once cadets have received their uniform issue with officer insignia, it's one of the last things they have to do before graduation. 

"This is just one more step toward their goal of getting their commission," Captain Grygo said.