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MTI team graduates first Iraqi air force class, returns home

  • Published
  • By Lilly Flores-Janecek
  • 37th Training Wing Public Affairs Office
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, TEXAS --  A team of military training instructors returned home Sept. 28 after a six-month deployment to help establish a basic military training program for Iraqi air force recruits.  

Six MTIs from the 331st Training Squadron and an officer from the 737th Training Group deployed to Camp Taji, Iraq, graduating the first class of recruits, also known as jundis, before leaving.

Fifty-eight Iraqis completed the 22-day course, with only five trainees dropping out of the program for various reasons. 

The training environment the team of instructors faced in Iraq was far different from their familiar home base.

Challenges included a language barrier which required the use of interpreters, basic logistics issues, and a poor environment for learning. 

"They (jundis) didn't have adequate food," said Staff Sgt. Laura Saucedo, 331st TRS. "They didn't have adequate water. They did not have power. They slept in 110- to 115- degree heat at night.

"Yet, they woke up every morning still eager to learn and still hoping for something better at the end of the training."

Capt. Samuel Peters, 737th TRG, said the team "influenced" some changes by advising an Iraqi officer on how to better handle the life support type issues and create an environment more conducive to learning.

"Living conditions are still rough, but it's getting there and they are now being paid sporadically," said Captain Peters. "I have to hand it to the students, because they are training despite death threats."

After graduating the first class of jundis, the Lackland team refined the curriculum to better suit the Iraqis' needs and created a new warrant officer basic training course. 

The officer course began its first class a few weeks ago with 77 students.  It will run for 60 days.  

According to Lt. Col. Thomas Schmidt, 331st TRS commander, a second team consisting of MTIs and an officer from the 324th TRS, 326th TRS, 320th TRS and 331st TRS is already in place and more rotations are planned. 

The members of all subsequent teams have a solid foundation to build on, thanks to the tough work done by the inaugural team of trainers. 

"They walked into a place where infrastructure was mostly lacking or all together nonexistent," Colonel Schmidt said. "They've done the dirty work for all the subsequent teams that will follow them." 

Upon the team's return, Col. Eric Wilbur, 37th Training Wing vice commander, highlighted the importance of success in this mission.

"The work that you did there in Iraq is critical to stand up a military that can defend itself long term," Colonel Wilbur said.  "And in this particular region of the world, that is vitally important."