Airmen training airmen: Deployed Dover Airmen train new Iraqi air forces

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
  • 436th AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Team Dover Airmen, currently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, are helping to build an Iraqi Air Force capable of conducting sustained operations in order to defeat terrorism and create a stable environment, while setting the conditions for achieving air sovereignty.

Col. David Penny, 370th Air Expeditionary Advisor Group commander, Master Sgt. Edward Reyes, 870th Air Expeditionary Advisor Squadron logistics advisor, and Tech. Sgt. Steven Miller, 370th AEAS combat-aviation advisor, are all serving year-long temporary duty deployments.

"The work here is sometimes grueling with an operations tempo requiring night-and-day work," said Sergeant Miller, who's deployed from the 736th Maintenance Squadron. "But, the efforts are validated by seeing the Iraqi air forces commitment and capabilities progressing daily."

For the new Iraq air force, they are literally starting from the ground up.

"Iraq is in the rebuilding stage," said Sergeant Miller. "Remember, you have to crawl before you walk and this fits well here. As each day passes, you can see dramatic gains in the maintenance and operations successes from the Iraqis. They're taking over most maintenance operations and the aircrews are flying two to three missions per day, if not more. In many instances, the Iraqi forces are already running."

Being away from home for a year or more is a challenge and a sacrifice for U.S. forces supporting the war efforts, said Sergeant Miller. Still, that sacrifice is relatively small when compared to the sacrifices being made by the Coalition's Iraqi counterparts.

"During the past few months, we have had a few of our Iraqi maintainers who were kidnapped and killed," he said. "These guys put their lives on the line every day when they come to work to ensure the progress towards a sovereign country."

The commitment and numbers of Iraqis taking the war efforts into their own hands is rising, according to Colonel Penny, who's deployed from the 436th Airlift Wing. Their efforts are spawning hope and motivating the training -- a growing light is on the horizon.

"We have trained roughly 300 students so far and have another 1,000 to train this year," he said. "The sooner the Iraqis have a credible air force and are able to assist the rest of the national security forces, the bulk of the U.S. and Coalition Forces can leave knowing the country has returned to a peaceful and sovereign state.

"This (Iraqi force) is a proud air force with a great future," continued the colonel. "They are all airmen. I look forward to returning in a few years and spending even more time in the social settings that are the earmark of this region."

Bringing capabilities to Iraqi enlisted maintainers

Sergeant Miller's duties include training, advising and mentoring Iraqi C-130 Electrical and Environmental technicians (aircraft mechanics).

"I am performing the same duties as I did at Dover as a C-5 Galaxy Maintenance Qualification Training Program instructor," said the sergeant. "I am teaching the newly assigned Iraqis all of the tasks required. This is a truly magnificent program where they perform all of the maintenance as I train, advise and just guide them towards the final end product, which is using all applicable technical orders to provide the Iraqi aircrew with a safe and reliable aircraft."

The Iraqi maintainers are working on a vastly different airframe than they are accustomed to.

"Most of the Iraqis have only worked on the Russian An-24 aircraft," said Sergeant Miller. "They tell me (the C-130) is much more difficult to learn."

Sergeant Miller also experiences challenges with language barriers, he said. But he feels the quality of the Iraqi forces he's assigned to counteract the barriers.

"The Iraqis are great and epitomize our core value of 'Service before Self,'" he said. "They risk their lives and that of their families just to be here."

For Sergeant Miller, one Iraqi airman stands out for having an unwavering commitment to service and professionalism.

"(He) is one of my 7-level technicians and is truly dedicated to what it takes to make this a successful Iraqi air force," said Sergeant Miller. "He has a pretty wild work schedule with 14 days on and seven days off. On his seven days off, he doesn't go home (fearing) his safety. Instead, he stays here at the Iraqi base and volunteers to work his off days fixing aircraft. The Iraqi air force is quick to call upon his expertise."

Training the Iraqi officers

While Sergeant Miller has been involved in hands-on training of the enlisted Iraqi mechanics, Sergeant Reyes, deployed from the 436th Logistics Readiness Squadron, has been busy guiding new Iraqi officers.

"I am responsible for educating and advising the new Iraqi air force logistics officers," said Sergeant Reyes. "Currently, I am training three Iraqi logistics officers on proper accountability, disposition, transportation, warehouse practices and facility improvements. To ensure mission accomplishment, I coach them to coordinate with Coalition and other Iraqi military members on daily objectives."

The sergeant admits that his task is difficult but is comforted by knowing that "once the Iraqi air force is able to establish a concrete logistics program, one more system will be solidified and I'll be able to leave knowing I helped Iraq become a credible and self-sufficient country."

Providing a future

Sergeant Reyes, who e-mails his wife and daughters daily to comfort their hearts, said one trip to Baghdad is a constant reminder to him why the Air Force, sister services and Coalition forces are in Iraq to begin with.

"Every Airman here is serving their country away from family," he said. "They understand their sacrifice and accept the responsibility to establish a strong Iraqi air force. For this sacrifice, I say they are all outstanding."

Since the initial 'shock and awe,' Airmen have been at the forefront of the Iraq efforts, he said. For nearly 17 years, Airmen have served in the skies over Iraq. They work with their Coalition brothers and pull duty once reserved for Army or Marine forces.

However, out of the desert sands, something new is emerging, said the sergeant. An Iraqi air force is coming on line, which will help build peace in the region for generations to come. There is a new call for U.S. Airmen to answer - the call to serve as leaders, trainers, coworkers and often friends to an emerging force of airmen.