WEBVTT 00:05.340 --> 00:09.140 mhm . Yeah 00:17.840 --> 00:20.950 mm mm . 00:21.640 --> 00:23.810 Welcome to the Iraq Training advisory 00:23.810 --> 00:25.921 mission . Air special . I'm Air Force 00:25.921 --> 00:28.410 Master Sergeant Gene Taylor Under 00:28.410 --> 00:30.577 Saddam Hussein the Iraqi Air Force was 00:30.577 --> 00:33.550 over 1000 aircraft strong but two wars 00:33.550 --> 00:35.661 with the United States left their air 00:35.661 --> 00:37.772 force in shambles . The men and women 00:37.772 --> 00:39.661 of the Iraq training and advisory 00:39.661 --> 00:41.494 mission . Air have been steadily 00:41.494 --> 00:43.439 mentoring and rebuilding Iraqi air 00:43.439 --> 00:45.383 power since 2006 . It's a long and 00:45.383 --> 00:47.606 storied history with thousands of their 00:47.606 --> 00:49.661 advisors who've come through here to 00:49.661 --> 00:49.570 help the Iraqi Air Force rebuild their 00:49.570 --> 00:51.514 capabilities and the Army Aviation 00:51.514 --> 00:53.348 Command as well now that they're 00:53.348 --> 00:55.514 separate And if you look at where they 00:55.514 --> 00:57.459 started with only a few 100 airmen 00:57.459 --> 00:59.626 building over 70 airplanes and over 90 00:59.626 --> 01:01.737 helicopters in just a short period of 01:01.737 --> 01:04.030 time , it's pretty amazing . Today Iraq 01:04.030 --> 01:06.550 has over 100 and 70 aircraft , more 01:06.550 --> 01:10.220 than 5000 airmen and another 2500 Army 01:10.220 --> 01:12.430 aviators and is gaining in size and 01:12.430 --> 01:14.660 abilities every day . Let's look at 01:14.660 --> 01:16.549 some of their accomplishments and 01:16.549 --> 01:18.660 Iraq's future air power plans . As we 01:18.660 --> 01:20.716 prepare to withdraw U . S . Military 01:20.716 --> 01:23.370 forces . By december 31st the Iraqi 01:23.370 --> 01:26.020 army has over 90 helicopters ranging 01:26.020 --> 01:28.610 from Russian made em I 17 to american 01:28.610 --> 01:30.890 made hueys and belfour oh sevens . 01:30.950 --> 01:33.190 Their fleet at Taji airfield operates 01:33.190 --> 01:35.270 independently flying armed anti 01:35.270 --> 01:38.110 terrorism missions day and night . They 01:38.110 --> 01:40.980 can now deliver a fairly significant 01:40.980 --> 01:43.230 package in any kind of mission they're 01:43.230 --> 01:45.063 doing and they're running rocket 01:45.063 --> 01:47.286 mission by themselves . They're quickly 01:47.286 --> 01:49.341 establishing themselves as a capable 01:49.341 --> 01:51.452 force independent of needing american 01:51.452 --> 01:53.870 help during the Saddam era . Safety 01:53.870 --> 01:55.870 wasn't a high priority when loading 01:55.870 --> 01:58.030 weapons . But today , after training 01:58.030 --> 02:00.230 under Air Force advisors , things are 02:00.230 --> 02:02.286 different . Their understanding that 02:02.286 --> 02:04.452 safety is priority as in the past they 02:04.452 --> 02:06.674 just like safety is all americans . But 02:06.674 --> 02:08.730 now we're teaching the safety is not 02:08.730 --> 02:10.730 just an american way , it's the way 02:10.730 --> 02:10.710 they should be doing it . We haven't 02:10.710 --> 02:12.821 had any incidents in my tenure here . 02:13.090 --> 02:15.201 And in turn I see our guys and when I 02:15.201 --> 02:17.090 walk in on the shop unannounced , 02:17.090 --> 02:18.979 they're doing their end of runway 02:18.979 --> 02:21.146 checks . They have their aircraft with 02:21.146 --> 02:22.923 the rockets coned off and their 02:22.923 --> 02:24.868 precautionary signs up and they're 02:24.868 --> 02:26.979 doing that all on their own . Another 02:26.979 --> 02:29.201 area where great strides have been made 02:29.201 --> 02:31.368 is in maintenance . It used to be when 02:31.368 --> 02:33.312 aircraft needed parts . The Iraqis 02:33.312 --> 02:35.534 would wait months for orders to come in 02:35.534 --> 02:37.590 over the last year the Iraq training 02:37.590 --> 02:39.646 and advisory mission Air has changed 02:39.646 --> 02:41.590 all that . They've created a fully 02:41.590 --> 02:43.812 functional machine and sheet metal shop 02:43.812 --> 02:46.090 and trained Iraqi airmen to operate it . 02:46.090 --> 02:47.979 The advantages are many take this 02:47.979 --> 02:50.090 bracket for example , so they have to 02:50.090 --> 02:52.257 go through normal supply system within 02:52.257 --> 02:54.170 time . Money resources locally 02:54.170 --> 02:56.337 manufactured . This bracket here takes 02:56.337 --> 02:58.559 about two days before the wedding , six 02:58.559 --> 03:00.559 months for breakfast come in pretty 03:00.559 --> 03:02.670 much anything that could be made on a 03:02.670 --> 03:04.837 mill lay the bridgeport machine we can 03:04.837 --> 03:07.003 make in the shop period . This machine 03:07.003 --> 03:09.114 shop is a big boost to operations but 03:09.114 --> 03:11.226 it's just one of many improvements us 03:11.226 --> 03:13.114 advisers have helped Iraqi airmen 03:13.114 --> 03:15.226 achieve over the last few months . We 03:15.226 --> 03:17.170 have a weapon section , we have an 03:17.170 --> 03:19.392 ammunition section , We have Flightline 03:19.392 --> 03:18.960 Crew chiefs , we have a back shop 03:18.960 --> 03:20.738 avionics session right now that 03:20.738 --> 03:23.730 actually has an Iraqi shop chief . They 03:23.730 --> 03:25.952 can manufacture parts , they can repair 03:25.952 --> 03:27.730 aircraft , they do all kinds of 03:27.730 --> 03:29.952 phenomenal things . So now they're self 03:29.952 --> 03:32.080 sustaining themselves During the last 03:32.080 --> 03:34.136 year item . Air advisors have helped 03:34.136 --> 03:36.247 these Iraqi airmen go from performing 03:36.247 --> 03:38.030 about 20% of their own aircraft 03:38.030 --> 03:40.660 maintenance to over 80% 03:43.340 --> 03:45.290 at New Al muthana Air Force Base . 03:45.400 --> 03:47.930 Iraqi airman fly to different aircraft , 03:48.060 --> 03:50.640 an older model C 1 30 cargo plane and a 03:50.640 --> 03:53.200 King Air 3 50 that carries passengers 03:53.200 --> 03:55.367 or can perform surveillance missions . 03:55.580 --> 03:57.580 The C one thirties were first flown 03:57.580 --> 03:59.691 here in 2000 and six and the squadron 03:59.691 --> 04:01.747 has been fully self sufficient since 04:01.747 --> 04:05.150 september of 2000 and nine . They are 04:05.160 --> 04:06.993 fully autonomous on their flight 04:06.993 --> 04:08.938 operations and their maintenance , 04:08.938 --> 04:12.040 fully capable of sustaining training 04:12.180 --> 04:15.160 and evaluating their performance and uh 04:15.170 --> 04:17.392 obviously doing the operational mission 04:17.392 --> 04:19.940 of basic airlift for the Iraqi 04:19.940 --> 04:22.162 government . Hopefully they'll continue 04:22.162 --> 04:24.496 to work hard and sustain that operation . 04:24.740 --> 04:27.240 The King Air 3 50 program isn't as far 04:27.240 --> 04:29.490 along . They fly regular I . S . Our 04:29.490 --> 04:31.434 missions with qualified pilots and 04:31.434 --> 04:33.810 sensor operators alongside us . Air 04:33.810 --> 04:35.990 advisors . Aircraft maintenance is 04:35.990 --> 04:38.180 performed by contractors but earlier 04:38.180 --> 04:40.250 this year U . S . Contractors began 04:40.250 --> 04:43.290 training with Iraqi Air me since we got 04:43.290 --> 04:46.240 here four months ago . I see a lot of 04:46.240 --> 04:49.330 improvement . Uh These guys picking up 04:49.330 --> 04:51.950 a lot of experience . They still have a 04:51.960 --> 04:54.970 long way to go to be self sufficient . 04:54.980 --> 04:57.450 I don't think they could open an 04:57.450 --> 05:00.940 aircraft up for inspection and start 05:00.950 --> 05:02.950 and finish it without supervision . 05:03.040 --> 05:05.207 Both of these aircraft programs are at 05:05.207 --> 05:07.429 a stage where they should be successful 05:07.429 --> 05:09.373 without US advisers yet both could 05:09.373 --> 05:11.429 still benefit from their expertise . 05:11.429 --> 05:13.262 Yeah I think it's important that 05:13.262 --> 05:16.110 obviously we remain us and Iraq stays 05:16.420 --> 05:18.450 tied in relations . Especially the 05:18.450 --> 05:20.730 support to continue bringing these guys 05:20.730 --> 05:22.508 into the U . S . For formalized 05:22.508 --> 05:24.563 training . They've already sustained 05:24.563 --> 05:26.397 that basic foundation of airlift 05:26.397 --> 05:28.563 perhaps now starting to add the pieces 05:28.563 --> 05:30.320 to achieve that success . 05:30.840 --> 05:34.740 Iraq has six of the new J Model 05:34.740 --> 05:36.518 C130s on order and should begin 05:36.518 --> 05:38.462 receiving them next year . But all 05:38.462 --> 05:40.796 these aircraft can't fly without pilots . 05:40.796 --> 05:42.851 When item air started building Iraqi 05:42.851 --> 05:44.962 air power , Iraqi pilots were trained 05:44.962 --> 05:47.480 by us instructors . Now the Iraqi Air 05:47.480 --> 05:49.760 Force is training their own pilots . 05:50.840 --> 05:53.520 21 months ago This flight line was 05:53.520 --> 05:56.480 empty today . 15 primary flight 05:56.480 --> 05:58.880 training aircraft are here and 11 fully 05:58.880 --> 06:01.260 certified Iraqi instructor pilots are 06:01.260 --> 06:03.149 teaching between 10 and 20 native 06:03.149 --> 06:05.530 pilots at any one time . Iraqi flying 06:05.530 --> 06:08.120 training Squadron 203 is now self 06:08.120 --> 06:10.070 sustaining with their own aircrew 06:10.070 --> 06:12.014 flight equipment and standards and 06:12.014 --> 06:14.014 evaluation shops . This operational 06:14.014 --> 06:15.810 success is the work of the 52nd 06:15.820 --> 06:17.987 Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron 06:18.040 --> 06:19.984 who helped the Iraqis learn how to 06:19.984 --> 06:22.151 train their own pilots holding them to 06:22.151 --> 06:24.600 U . S . Standards the whole way there . 06:24.600 --> 06:26.711 As good or better than any types that 06:26.711 --> 06:28.767 we have at home . A matter of fact , 06:28.767 --> 06:30.950 some of the younger guys , they call 06:30.950 --> 06:33.220 him the first pipes . The pipes are as 06:33.220 --> 06:35.387 good as any that we've had back home . 06:35.387 --> 06:37.331 Flight training in Iraq faces many 06:37.331 --> 06:39.498 unique challenges from the desert heat 06:39.498 --> 06:41.664 limiting when you can fly to a lack of 06:41.664 --> 06:43.776 support infrastructure . There's also 06:43.776 --> 06:45.998 no jet trainer yet , as in the States , 06:45.998 --> 06:48.109 some more lessons are covered in this 06:48.109 --> 06:50.276 initial flying course . So they have a 06:50.276 --> 06:52.331 longer syllabus but they are held to 06:52.331 --> 06:54.387 the same standard as far as for each 06:54.387 --> 06:56.387 individual maneuver and the overall 06:56.387 --> 06:58.498 grade of the of the sword . So I feel 06:58.498 --> 07:00.553 very confident that they are able to 07:00.553 --> 07:02.720 take this mission where they will be a 07:02.720 --> 07:04.942 fully functioning pilot training base . 07:04.942 --> 07:07.053 The success of this program though is 07:07.053 --> 07:09.109 already proven . The 11th instructor 07:09.109 --> 07:11.276 pilot was certified by squadron two or 07:11.276 --> 07:13.442 three the day after US advisers ceased 07:13.442 --> 07:15.442 their advisor duties . They are the 07:15.442 --> 07:17.220 foundation and they will be the 07:17.220 --> 07:19.387 enduring capabilities of the Iraqi Air 07:19.387 --> 07:21.560 Force and all the rest of the Iraqi 07:21.570 --> 07:23.514 pilots that because they get their 07:23.514 --> 07:25.626 wings are going to be trained by this 07:25.626 --> 07:29.010 water . They have aircraft and trained 07:29.010 --> 07:31.121 pilots . The next step on the road to 07:31.121 --> 07:33.400 strong independent Iraqi air power is 07:33.410 --> 07:35.520 air traffic controllers . Let's meet 07:35.520 --> 07:38.090 the first of many Iraqi 80 CS taking 07:38.090 --> 07:40.312 charge of the skies over their nation's 07:40.312 --> 07:42.420 airwaves shaking for two channel . 07:42.420 --> 07:44.750 Right Exactly limited went off contact 07:44.750 --> 07:47.710 ground 1 to 17 47 5 . Lieutenant Yousef 07:47.710 --> 07:50.240 is the first fully licensed Iraqi air 07:50.240 --> 07:52.462 traffic controller . I think it means a 07:52.462 --> 07:55.000 lot because now I understand the needs 07:55.000 --> 07:57.180 for my country to build a traffic 07:57.180 --> 08:00.140 control . Now to build our abilities to 08:00.150 --> 08:03.170 get control our outfit and airways . He 08:03.170 --> 08:05.337 comes in , he sets a prime example for 08:05.337 --> 08:07.392 all the guys in the training program 08:07.392 --> 08:09.559 says , hey , if you work hard , listen 08:09.559 --> 08:11.559 to your instructors that you can do 08:11.559 --> 08:13.781 this job on his high level . As anybody 08:13.781 --> 08:15.503 in the United States Air Force 08:15.503 --> 08:17.670 Lieutenant Yousef is the first of many 08:17.670 --> 08:19.892 Iraqi controllers to be certified as of 08:19.892 --> 08:21.614 october 20th , four More Iraqi 08:21.614 --> 08:23.226 controllers had earned their 08:23.226 --> 08:25.281 certifications . Not only lieutenant 08:25.281 --> 08:27.226 use of but all of the students are 08:27.230 --> 08:29.480 highly educated . I can't imagine 08:29.480 --> 08:31.940 controlling in a foreign language , I 08:31.940 --> 08:34.950 can't imagine Studying in a foreign 08:34.950 --> 08:37.550 language to then go on to perform in a 08:37.550 --> 08:39.717 foreign language . These guys do it in 08:39.717 --> 08:41.660 450 hours or less . It's very 08:41.660 --> 08:43.960 impressive in ideal conditions here . 08:43.970 --> 08:46.192 It takes roughly a year to train an air 08:46.192 --> 08:48.192 traffic controller . There are many 08:48.192 --> 08:50.026 language and cultural hurdles to 08:50.026 --> 08:51.970 overcome but the hope is that soon 08:51.970 --> 08:54.081 Lieutenant Yousef and others from his 08:54.081 --> 08:56.303 class will begin passing on their newly 08:56.303 --> 08:58.414 learned skills to the next generation 08:58.414 --> 09:00.414 of Iraqi controllers . They want to 09:00.414 --> 09:02.526 learn , they want this , they want to 09:02.526 --> 09:04.470 be air traffic controllers for the 09:04.470 --> 09:06.637 nation of Iraq . They want to ford the 09:06.637 --> 09:08.859 progress of the country on october 20th 09:08.859 --> 09:10.970 of 35 . Iraqi controllers to complete 09:10.970 --> 09:13.081 technical training . five . It earned 09:13.081 --> 09:15.192 full , I see a civilian certification 09:15.340 --> 09:17.180 and 12 were in testing for their 09:17.180 --> 09:19.458 licenses . We ensure that they're safe , 09:19.458 --> 09:21.513 we make sure that they are effective 09:21.640 --> 09:25.220 and the efficiency part will come as 09:25.220 --> 09:27.880 they now begin to train and gain 09:27.880 --> 09:30.440 experience . If a year ago you were 09:30.440 --> 09:32.551 asking me is , hey , can we send some 09:32.551 --> 09:34.662 controllers took her cook to open the 09:34.662 --> 09:36.773 tower or can we send some controllers 09:36.773 --> 09:38.829 of the creator rally base or tag for 09:38.829 --> 09:40.884 the army aviation ? We would have we 09:40.884 --> 09:43.051 would have had to say we can't but now 09:43.051 --> 09:45.162 we're able to send , you know , those 09:45.162 --> 09:47.384 controllers as a minimum , essential to 09:47.384 --> 09:49.440 open those towers and they take over 09:49.440 --> 09:51.440 from us as we transition out of the 09:51.440 --> 09:53.273 country on october 1st , another 09:53.273 --> 09:55.496 milestone was achieved when the U . S . 09:55.496 --> 09:57.718 Air Force transferred management of the 09:57.718 --> 09:59.884 Baghdad and balad air space sectors to 09:59.884 --> 10:01.884 the Iraq Civil Aviation Authority . 10:01.884 --> 10:04.051 Iraq's air traffic controllers are now 10:04.051 --> 10:06.218 directing the movement of all aircraft 10:06.218 --> 10:08.440 within their country For the first time 10:08.440 --> 10:10.440 since 2003 . They definitely come a 10:10.440 --> 10:12.273 long way and they do have a self 10:12.273 --> 10:14.496 sufficient air traffic control system . 10:14.496 --> 10:16.329 Now they're controllers are very 10:16.329 --> 10:18.329 competent . One area they do need a 10:18.329 --> 10:20.329 little bit of work on is just their 10:20.329 --> 10:22.384 communications infrastructure . It's 10:22.384 --> 10:24.607 very fragile . Um They need to invest a 10:24.607 --> 10:26.718 little bit more money in their radars 10:26.718 --> 10:28.662 and radios but once they do that I 10:28.662 --> 10:28.320 think they'll have a you know that 10:28.330 --> 10:30.441 they'll that'll be a good way forward 10:30.441 --> 10:32.870 for him . In september , Iraq decided 10:32.870 --> 10:34.930 to buy american made F 16 fighting 10:34.930 --> 10:37.097 falcons for their future Air defense . 10:37.320 --> 10:39.209 The purchase will ensure a strong 10:39.209 --> 10:41.264 relationship between the U . S . And 10:41.264 --> 10:44.390 Iraq for many years to come at a public 10:44.390 --> 10:46.390 ceremony . Staff Lieutenant General 10:46.390 --> 10:48.557 Anwar , the commander of the Iraqi Air 10:48.557 --> 10:51.490 Force said Iraq's decision to buy 18 F 10:51.490 --> 10:53.657 16 Fighting falcons for their future . 10:53.657 --> 10:55.379 Air Defense will encourage and 10:55.379 --> 10:57.434 strengthen the strategic partnership 10:57.434 --> 10:59.490 between the United States and Iraq . 10:59.680 --> 11:01.910 The package deal includes us logistical 11:01.910 --> 11:03.880 support as well as pilot and 11:03.880 --> 11:06.047 maintenance training . I think this is 11:06.047 --> 11:08.950 the one main issue maintaining our 11:08.950 --> 11:11.390 strategy relationship between both 11:11.390 --> 11:13.960 countries through the earth's Christine 11:14.440 --> 11:16.570 because this aircraft is the best 11:16.570 --> 11:18.626 aircraft in the light of the world . 11:18.626 --> 11:20.514 Although Iraq already has several 11:20.514 --> 11:22.681 aircraft models in its inventory . The 11:22.681 --> 11:24.903 incorporation of the F 16 will mark the 11:24.903 --> 11:27.280 true rebirth of the Iraqi air force . 11:27.320 --> 11:30.030 Our buildings here strong in the future 11:30.030 --> 11:32.252 if Christine also believe we are in the 11:32.252 --> 11:34.530 Iraqi Air Force and also we have also 11:34.530 --> 11:37.500 transport aircraft like C one thirties . 11:37.500 --> 11:39.556 You want 30 East , you want 30 J and 11:39.556 --> 11:41.890 also another aircraft . I'm very happy 11:41.890 --> 11:44.110 because I saw that our future is very 11:44.110 --> 11:47.410 good while most item air instructors 11:47.410 --> 11:49.577 are scheduled to leave Iraq by the end 11:49.577 --> 11:51.799 of the year , a select few will stay on 11:51.799 --> 11:53.632 and continue to oversee aviation 11:53.632 --> 11:55.632 programs , let's meet an instructor 11:55.632 --> 11:57.854 pilot who will advise into the new year 11:57.854 --> 11:59.910 under NATO in the office of Security 11:59.910 --> 12:02.830 cooperation . Iraq the sun isn't even 12:02.830 --> 12:04.886 up yet . The chief warrant officer , 12:04.886 --> 12:06.890 Jason gonna Tano is already hard at 12:06.890 --> 12:08.860 work . He's a seven year veteran 12:08.860 --> 12:11.170 helicopter instructor pilot and this is 12:11.170 --> 12:13.337 one of the last times he'll be able to 12:13.337 --> 12:15.690 fly with Iraqi student pilots . The 12:15.690 --> 12:18.110 best part is the fine . That's my job 12:18.110 --> 12:20.332 back at fort Rucker is to fly and teach 12:20.332 --> 12:22.443 students and I'm doing the same thing 12:22.443 --> 12:24.388 as I did back there teaching those 12:24.388 --> 12:26.560 basically the same type of students at 12:26.560 --> 12:28.640 the same level While the maintainers 12:28.640 --> 12:30.696 performed their last minute checks . 12:30.696 --> 12:32.696 Chief Garitano discusses the flight 12:32.696 --> 12:34.473 characteristics of the Bell 407 12:34.473 --> 12:36.362 helicopter with his students . He 12:36.362 --> 12:38.418 believes this aircraft is a good fit 12:38.418 --> 12:40.473 for the growing Iraqi Army Air Corps 12:40.473 --> 12:42.960 but it's pretty versatile . It's simple 12:43.550 --> 12:46.530 and being a simple , it's less , it's 12:46.530 --> 12:49.410 easier to maintain sustain then it's up 12:49.420 --> 12:50.550 up and away . 12:53.240 --> 12:55.407 While most air advisors will be out of 12:55.407 --> 12:57.518 Iraq by year's end , Chief Gonna Tana 12:57.518 --> 12:59.573 will be here through the spring , he 12:59.573 --> 13:01.740 won't be in the cockpit but he will be 13:01.740 --> 13:04.270 advising the bell 407 training program . 13:04.280 --> 13:06.430 I'm here to see the eyes and ears and 13:06.430 --> 13:08.541 belly button here , cocky . I'm gonna 13:08.541 --> 13:11.050 help them with bringing in the aircraft 13:11.050 --> 13:13.050 here , get into the right place and 13:13.050 --> 13:16.610 getting people train At the end of all 13:16.610 --> 13:18.666 this . If you look back at the seven 13:18.666 --> 13:21.470 years of crafty item air force and item 13:21.470 --> 13:23.540 air and the 321st Air Expeditionary 13:23.540 --> 13:26.030 Wing . The easiest way to sum up what 13:26.030 --> 13:28.700 we have done is we have taken a nation , 13:28.700 --> 13:30.700 we have taken an air force that was 13:30.700 --> 13:32.756 literally rebuilding itself from the 13:32.756 --> 13:34.478 ashes and we've given them the 13:34.478 --> 13:36.533 opportunity for a more secure , more 13:36.533 --> 13:38.700 stable and representative democracy in 13:38.700 --> 13:40.756 the future . At the end of the day , 13:40.756 --> 13:42.811 that's good for Iraq . It's good for 13:42.811 --> 13:44.922 the United States . It's good for the 13:44.922 --> 13:47.089 region and it's good for the world and 13:47.089 --> 13:49.311 that's a look at Iraqi air power as the 13:49.311 --> 13:49.000 Iraq training and advisory mission . 13:49.010 --> 13:51.350 Air and all american military forces 13:51.530 --> 13:53.770 stand prepared to leave Iraq , an Air 13:53.770 --> 13:55.770 Force Master Sergeant Gene Taylor , 13:55.770 --> 13:56.950 have a great day .