Posted on 10/02/2006 5:42:17 PM PDT by SandRat
BAGHDAD — The Iraqi Air Force is working to gain complete control of support operations from Coalition forces to add to the maintenance operations already under its charge.
Formerly located at Ali Air Base near the city of An Nasiriyah in south central Iraq, the 23rd Squadron has not only changed its location to New Al Muthanna Air Base in Baghdad, but also the focus of its operations tempo.
“When the squadron was at Ali base, the training was just on aircraft qualification,” explained U.S. Air Force Maj. Dave Osterhout, Coalition Air Force Assistance Transition Team operations chief. “Iraqi airmen were responsible for very little in regards to scheduling. Now the goal has shifted to getting them ready to run their own squadron-type operations,” he said.
The squadron is working to take full control of flying operations through scheduling, training, life support, weapons and tactics operations and planning staff functions. In addition to these functions, it will also maintain complete administrative oversight of the unit.
“Although they will be modeled after the U.S. Air Force – because of the training they are getting from Coalition forces – the goal is not to turn them into an American force,” Osterhout said.
Osterhout said improving their operations starts with changing their mindset. “We are trying to modify a cultural mindset to make their operations run better,” he said.
Part of that mindset includes the type of training being conducted for enlisted troops and officers. The Iraqi Air Force lacked consistency in standardizing evaluations and training.
“This prevented the enlisted side from making decisions, regardless of how much experience they had,” he said. “Their chain of responsibility went upward, whereas in the U.S. it goes downward.”
Osterhout said this has had a negative affect on their operations, which is normally handled at lower echelons. He said the further up the chain you go, the less involved or knowledgeable you are about the hands-on, day-to-day operations of the squadron.
“The higher you go in the chain, the less available you are, which makes approving daily functions more difficult,” Osterhout said.
Iraqi Air Force Lt. Col. Saad, 23rd Squadron chief flight engineer, agreed that the change in responsibility has had the most significant impact on the squadron’s operations. He said although aircrew members had years of experience, only Iraqi politicians and air force headquarters were allowed to make decisions.
“In the past you were just given an order to do something and you did it without giving your opinion,” said Saad. “Now, when we take an order about any mission, we discuss with our friends (Coalition advisors) how to conclude that mission and how to measure every step in that mission.”
Saad said this has taught them the importance of effective communication. “Now, when missions are tasked from our headquarters, we discuss every step and small detail on that mission and we come up with a result that is safe for us and safe for our airplane,” Saad said.
“No matter if we (pilots and operators) feel the mission is worth it or not.” In addition, the operations flight has implemented the use of “Air Force Instructions,” a regulation governing the day-to-day operations of a unit. In the old air force, operational regulations were not used.
Although Osterhout said the Iraqi Air Force is being developed to form its own identity, Saad said he hopes that identity will mimic the U.S. Air Force.
“The U.S. has a very long history in military operations, so we are thankful to have access to the ideas they’ve put sweat and blood into developing,” Saad said. “The threats that we face are real but haven’t changed our mind about supporting our country. We are here and we want to build our air force in a few years. The Iraqi Air Force will be a great place to be – hopefully just like the U.S. Air Force,” he added.
The Iraqi Air Force focuses primarily on troop and logistics movements as well as air medevac for life-threatening and casualty producing situations. The force currently has three C-130E cargo planes to accomplish its missions. According to both Iraqi and U.S. Air Force leaders, the Iraqis are expected to receive an additional three C-130Es in 2008.
FR War News,I love it.
Sorry, but the US is intentionally nutering the Iraqi Air Force.
They worry that if we gave them bombers they would use them disproportional on the enemy.
meant to say disproportionally.
Though, I have disagreed with the Pentagon with this from day one.
The insurgents don't fear us leveling an enemy village from the air. But, if the Iraqis had some bombers they would be deadly afraid as would Sadr be.
BTTT
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.