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Show AIR FORGE NEWS C Hilltop Times January 19. 2006 W BMildinsr am Iraqi Air Force BY TECH. SGT. PAUL DEAN 407th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs Gen. Allen Peck, deputy combined forces air component commander, who accompanied Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne on a visit here. AU BASE, Iraq (AFPN) Reality is often at odds with expectations when Airmen "We've come a long way," said Senior deploy. This difference can be extreme when the mission is to provide military training to a re- Mas- ter Sgt. George Godsey, also deployed from the 463rd. cent enemy. "When (group two) got here, the training of But several Airmen near the end of the new Iraqi Air Force was well under way. deployments as advisory support team We were able to kick things into the next instructors say they would rather stay here gear, take (Iraqi maintainers) to another levthan go home after their experiences. During el," Sergeant Godsey said. "Now success is up their deployment they have had a chance to to them. We've given them the tools to make directly shape the future of the world, learn it, but it's up to them to make it or break it." about and gain respect for a different culture, The Iraqi squadron is scheduled to move to meet men they now call brothers and solidify their permanent home at New Al Muthana Air their instinctive belief that the U.S. Air Force, Base at Baghdad International Airport within is the greatest in the world. the next few weeks. Although it will not be "It wasn't like I was on the fence before I when it gets to its new home, each came, I volunteered to do this," said Tech. day brings them closer, officials said. Sgt. John Furber, deployed from the 463rd Language barriers seem to be the only reAircraft Maintenance Squadron at Little maining stumbling block, Sergeant Garrison Rock Air Force Base, Ark. "But now I know said. I've been part of something really big. I have "The (maintenance reference materials) are a stake in it now. I know (Iraqi Airmen) and all in English. But other than that problem have a lot of respect for what they're doing." these guys are running at full speed. They've Iraqi Air Force Airmen live and work with made huge strides. They know the airframe their American counterparts here. The tent and know the systems." city at Ali Base has no walls or concertina English instruction, which is temporarily on wire separating coalition partners. Everyhold while the squadron relocates, will conbody lives together, shares the fitness center, tinue when it arrives at New Al Muthana, said laundry, library, recreational centers and dinMaj. Jed McCray, the 777th's maintenance ing facility. Iraqi Airmen share family photos, flight commander, who is deployed from Scott important events in their lives and perspec- Air Force Base, 111. tives on the past and hopes for the future with The major, who will return to Scott in a few American Airmen. weeks, is also taking away just as much, if not , "I'm taking away a sense that we've become more, than he brought with him to the trainpart of the same family," said Tech. Sgt. Mike ing mission, he said. Most importantly, Major Garrison, deployed from the 314th Aircraft McCray said he's developed a greater respect Maintenance Squadron at Little Rock. "These for what the United States is trying to do in men are no different from us. Americans fight Iraq and its part in the global war on terrorand die for their country and these guys did ism admiration for those who have to make the same thing. decisions and an appreciation for the "They love their families and their country, the Iraqi people and a solid belief in Air Force and are glad we got rid of Saddam (Hussein). institutions and standards. We are brothers," he said. . "Many of these (Iraqi) men are doing this One Iraqi maintainer was at Ali Base dur- for their country," Major McCray said. "They ing the first Gulf war. He saw his commander give up a lot being away from their families. family is every- get killed during the first night of "Shock and Because for most Iraqis, Awe." Today he is learning to repair the ' ..' K.:'vv '";.'. ' thing. U.S. in January Hercules given to Iraq by the "And they still can't wear (their Iraqi Air " 2005. Force) insignia on their chest or tell their The advisory support team instructors are neighbors that they're leaving for duty with with the 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron the air force." here. The Iraqi Airmen belong to Squadron Iraqi Airmen and their families are targets 23 (Transport), which stood up Jan. 14, 2005. for enemy retribution, so they protect their '. The relationship between the squadrons was identities closely. The ability of the Air Force to train the Iraqis labeled last month as "the greatest training success story in the Iraqi Air Force," by Maj. is due to the standards and programs within six-mon- th self-relia-nt top-lev- el G-1- U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Paul Dean Tech. Sgt. Charles Francks, helps one of his propulsion students. They are checking cockpit indicators and switches related to engine information and operation. Sergeant Franks has four students in his engine section. Advisory support team Instructors of the 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron are scheduled to relocate to the new home of the Iraqi Air Force Squadron 23 (Transport) at New Al Muthana Air Base, Baghdad international Airport within the next few weeks. Sergeant Francks Is deployed from the 86th Maintenance Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. " the U.S. system, Major McCray said. . rived replacement Instructors who hopes to "Our training programs, empowerment take the Iraqi Air Force closer to the finish of the noncommissioned officer ranks and line. "I really believe we need to train the Iraqi strong discipline standards have been highto make sure they are lighted by this experience. We've showed the Air Force properly world that our model is the right one," Major a capable force. I think what we're doing here McCray said. today will ensure that the Iraqi Air Force can Tech. Sgt. Charles Francks, deployed from secure their freedom in the future," Sergeant the 86th Maintenance Squadron at Ramstein Francks said. "And I really wanted to be a Air Base, Germany, is one of the recently ar part of that." 1 : : ; ; Gunfighter takes training to new level BY STAFF SGT. CHAWNTAIN 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs HOME As AFB, Idaho (AFPN) the nightfall approaches, temperature drops to single digits. The layers of clothing that seemed more than MOUNTAIN adequate earlier, now offer little protection from the g breeze and icy ground. "They're not just surviving," Tech Sgt. Micheal Ferguson said. "Their main goal is to get home." It's a lesson Sergeant Ferguson, a survival evasion resistance escape specialist here, is' committed to teaching. Based on the six articles of the Code of Conduct, Sergeant Ferguson's training is focused on personnel with a high risk of capture. He bone-chillin- loadmasters. Here, these guys are going to fly a different combat mission than (airborne warning and control system) personnel or refuelers. So my training is specific to their platform and airframe." With more than 16 years of experience under his belt, Sergeant Ferguson has designed a series of combat survival, water survival, emergency parachute and conduct after capture training exercises tailored to the wing's mission. "I also cover local area survival, which familiarizes pilots with the terrain here, what to do if anything happens and they have to eject, what equipment they have and how to use it and where 17-d-ay 17-da- ild, an instructor might be teaching a combination of parajescuemen, pilots and said. "We have the fortune that (Sergeant Ferguson) is a very proactive SERE instructor, and we also have a lot of room to train in the mountain home area," said Col. William Schaal, 366th Operations Group commander. "He has set up a strong program that allows our aircrew to be better prepared for combat." Although the program may seem like it is geared more ' toward operations support personnel like aircrew, life support and intel, Sergeant Ferguson's said his classes are custom tailored for Airmen in a variety of career fields and are based on two advanced levels of code of conduct training B and C. "Since the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom, (U.S. Central Command and the Department of Defense) have realized that anyone and everyone can get caught by a terrorist, not just pilots, special forces or Airmen in career fields of that nature," he said. "Airmen fresh out of basic know that there are six articles of the Code of Conduct, but they have no idea how it applies to them," Sergeant Ferguson said. Because of new and emerging, threats that have surfaced during the global war on terrorism, Sergeant Ferguson said it has been identithat everyone fied DOD-wid- e - teaches techniques they can use to survive in most environments, evade and resist capture by the enemy and escape should they be captured. Airmen in career fields that generally stand a greater chance of being captured by the enemy go through an SERE training initial course at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. But Sergeant Ferguson's instruction goes more into details. "When they go through the y course at Fairchild, everything is generalized to fit the needs of a diverse audience," he said. "At Fairch- they would get picked up," he U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kathy Parker raft may seem like It only has one purpose, but during a recent combat survival training exercise, Its extra layer of protection and added warmth shielded students from the frigid cold snow-coverground. Tech. Sgt. Micheal Ferguson encourages students to think outside the box when It comes to using their equipment. A life ed needs to be at least qualified. el "What that essentially means is that I reiterate the six articles of Code of Conduct and also talk about resistance techniques," Sergeant Ferguson said. "The only difference between training, which is the category most operations support personnel fall into, is that you get all the academics at the B level but no practice, like you do at the B-a- el Clever Sergeant Ferguson is a n shop and said he puts in long work hours and planning for the program to be a success, but he maintains that he is not alone in one-ma- his efforts. "I work very hard as a SERE specialist, but there's a lot of people coming in on their own time to make this happen," Sergeant Ferguson said. "If it wasn't for the folks in life support, intel, security forces, the medical squadron, the 726th Air Control Squadron, the Boise Air National Guard and the Idaho Army National Guard, I wouldn't be able to pull this off." But all that hard work and those countless hours don't go unnoticed. "In my 20 years, (Sergeant Ferguson's training) is the bestother than Fairchild, for combat survival skills," said Colonel Schaal, who recently participated in a combat survival training exercise. "He does a great job of making sure we know those skills, and we can hopefully survive and evade capture longer in a combat environment" New bill date for travel card BY MEGAN 0RT0N Air Education and Training Command Public affairs t RANDOLPH AFB, Texas Air Force gov(AFPN) ernment travel card billing cycles for individually billed accounts will begin closing out on the 22nd of each month beginning in March. The current cycle ends the third day of every month, so cardholders will experience a long cycle running Feb. 3 through March 22. Bank of America will have customer service representatives available and prepared to handle all calls relating to the cycle date change. Cardholders can now . register online for electronic account government ledger system user IDs and passwords using information found on GTC statements. This system allows cardholders to view current transactions and previous statement activity and maintain account information online. To register, visit www. gcsuthd.bankofamerica. comeaglsselfregistration selfreg.aspx. EAGLS user IDs and passwords will be mailed to the address associated with your GTC. Call the EAGLS technical help desk at (800) Courtesy of Air Education and Training Command News Service 472-142- 4. , |
