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Afghan officer earns U.S. Air Force wings

  • Published
  • By Sonic Johnson
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  The first Afghan officer to train in the United States in nearly 50 years earned silver Air Force wings in a ceremony June 12 at Columbus Air Force Base. 

Lt. Faiz Mohammed Ramaki was presented pilot wings by Col. Roger Watkins, 14th Flying Training Wing commander, after completing the Aviation Leadership Program. 

The U.S. Air Force program is a scholarship for flying training including English language training, 25 hours of flight screening in a civil aircraft such as a Cessna 172, 335 academic and ground training hours and approximately 167 flight hours and simulator sorties. 

The flying portion of the program can take nine to 10 months to complete. 

"The ALP program was challenging and difficult," Lieutenant Ramaki said. "Succeeding in the ALP is an accomplishment; but while this is a good day for me, it is a great day for my country." 

Lieutenant Ramaki will continue flying training in his next aircraft, the Italian-built C-27A Spartan when the Afghanistan military receives the first of 20 aircraft late this summer. 

When asked what he missed most from his native Afghanistan, Lieutenant Ramaki glowed at the memories of his family, his countryman, culture and language. 

"It will be good to return," he said. 

One of the first Afghan pilots to train in the U.S., Col. (Ret.) Ghulam Mustafa Tayer, traveled to the U.S. in 1958. Today, 61 Afghan pilot candidates will spend up to 30 months in the U.S. attending English language training before follow-on pilot training with the U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy. 

Thirty experienced Afghan Army Air Corps pilots will spend up to 10 months in the U.S. attending English language training followed by aircraft instrument flight qualification and returning to the Kabul Air Wing for C-27 qualification training. 

"Be proud of your accomplishments at Columbus," Colonel Watkins said. "You will go back to your country and share what you learned with other Air Corps pilots."