Ummmmm, hi, guys -- remember me?
Okay, I didn’t get whacked by a rocket, but I *did* get roped into some extra work. Y’see, I’m the only instructor here who can teach both starched-wing *and* fling-wing stuff, but when the starched-wing guys go on mujas, then I'm the *only* academics instructor, period, end of sentence. Ooops -- mujas is the Iraqi word for “vacation”. Or “leave”. Or “git outta Dodge.”
Anyhoo, the new flight student class (the fourth one) got here just as was leaving, and the two starched-wing guys went on mujas the day *before* I got back upcountry. Hence, I got tagged to cover their classes. Did I mention we’ve got four classes of Iraqi cadets here, now? Plus the Instructor Pilot candidates?
Visualize a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest.
However, today (okay, yesterday, by the time you read this), I got a break from teaching the new kids the mysterious ways in which airplanes manage to get into the air in 30-knot crosswinds.
Ta-daaaaaaa!
The First Class of the new Iraqi Air Force Flight School graduated today (yeah, yeah, yesterday -- whatever). Why call it Class 67? Simple – Class 66 was the last class to graduate from the *old* Flight School.
Seven years ago. In Tikrit.
Call it a concession to tradition.
And it really *is* a new Flight School. One thing the MSM was here covering in July and August – which you prolly didn’t read about – was the construction. The pic below only shows a small part of it:
Those buildings will be classrooms, student housing, cadre offices, simulator bays, maintenance workshops, computer labs – you name it. As soon as I get
Back to the ceremony. The place was overrun with Distinguished Visitors -- Ministry of Defense, IqAF HQ, CAFTT (the Coalition Armed Forces Transition Team, formerly *Training* Team), and Iraqi media. Interesting ceremony, too – it started with both the Iraqi and US national anthems, and I got a mild case of the startles when the AK-armed Iraqi security guy standing next to me transitioned from the Iraqi-style “Present Arms” during his anthem to a flawless US-style when ours was played. The DVs spoke in Arabic, which I couldn’t follow very well, but there were translators aplenty sitting with the Coalition contingent. Which is where I *wasn’t* -- I'd moved to keep the new Baby Class company in the bleachers. One of the kids nudged me when a DV started getting passionate in his address, and was interrupted by a standing ovation:
“He is saying that for the first time in our history, we are not doing things for one man, but we are doing it for all the people of Iraq. He is saying the US has showed us how, and we must not forget when we thank God every day, we must also ask him to bless the US.”
Then came something that *could* have gone badly – the Junior Class is responsible for the school’s colors, and immediately before the Class 67 cadets received their diplomas and swords, the honor guard from Class 69 formally passed the colors to the honor guard from Class 70.
I watched them rehearse on Friday.
*grin*
They’d evidently practiced a *lot* Saturday night, and it showed.
I couldn’t get a clear shot of each graduate receiving his sword (too many folks milling around getting *their* pix), but I did get the post-grad shot. This is something else that’s changed – a few months ago, putting their pictures in a public forum would have been a death sentence for them or their families. Right after the ceremony, they were each interviewed for Iraqi TV.
Ask any of these three brand-new pilots if the Surge worked.
Yeah, that's Class 67. There are only three of them.
They volunteered when it was a tossup whether they’d even live to graduate.
But there are eight in Class 68.
Twelve in Class 69.
And twenty-four in Class 70.
It *is* a new beginning.
Oh, yeah – the DV speaker who got the ovation?
He went through my IMC crash-proofing course back in April.
I couldn't show you *his* picture then either...
-- Bill
I couldn’t get a clear shot of each graduate receiving his sword (too many folks milling around getting *their* pix), but I did get the post-grad shot. This is something else that’s changed – a few months ago, putting their pictures in a public forum would have been a death sentence for them or their families. Right after the ceremony, they were each interviewed for Iraqi TV.
Now *there* is an indicator of progress.
Actually, it's an indicator of a *lack* of progress. I trim it to milspec and it *still* looks like a bore-brush for an M-1...
Way to go, Sugarbuttons!
Congrats from this old airdale. I hate to admit it, but I got a tad misty reading about how things have been going. It's not only pride in what WE as a nation accomplished on their behalf, but what THEY have accomplished. Once you let the genie of Freedom out of his bottle, there is no way to stuff him back in. Those new pilots and their follow-ons realise this, and thay will never look back for solutions to problems, only forard, as freemen and citizens.
Well done friend, Well done indeed!
*grin*
*grin*
*lots of pride*
*grin*
congratulations to all. May God grant them a long peace to practice their new found freedom and ways of the Jedi Master Bill!
Great job, and great story. I don't think I can tell you what a pleasure it has been having you as one of my "invisible internet friends."
What an incredible moment for these men and their country. They must be so proud! Please tell them how proud we are of them, too.
They are lucky to have you, Bill. Well done, and thank you.
I do believe it's the zipper. Well done, laddie. Well done.
But Unkabill, Is that a Maryland Crab starched over with Old Bay Seasoning, festooning your right breast pocket? I know that you are always trying to make yourself *er* tasty to the gentle gender, but believe me brother, there are other ways to achieve the same end result.
More news we won't see in the mainstream media.
Thanks for your comments, guys -- wish I could've done a live cam of the ceremony for ya, but I *did* get some videos. You know what's coming...
Ummmm, one of the reasons I ditched the mustache was because of the "You look like Sam Elliot" comments from Warrior Princess, Fire Pixie, MRAP Gurl and Captain Zena.
*ahem*
All of whom are seriously married.
I am developing an intense aversion to seafood...
Hey, Captain Tony! I'll send you some of the other pix!
This totally made me cry:
“He is saying that for the first time in our history, we are not doing things for one man, but we are doing it for all the people of Iraq. He is saying the US has showed us how, and we must not forget when we thank God every day, we must also ask him to bless the US.”
This really made my day. What Cass said. Yeah.
Thanks, thanks for everything.
What Cass and Don said...
And a well done Mr. Bill.
Talk about Moral Busting.
"Learn Kurmanji in Three Weeks! Classes held in the Clamtina every Thursday 1500 - 1600!"
"Luau at Karate Kat's! Friday Night 1700 - 1930!"
Between that and being married, my social life's a bust...
Wow.
Yes, Sugarbuttons is a QT.
Oh? Really? I have to go back and take a closer loook.
http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2008/10/from-front-10152008.html
I didn't see any responses from any of them here, but, based on the response I got to my email, you can add another twenty or so to the comment numbers.
Their responses were all good......some, very, very good.......
One thing I've learned over the years..........apparently NOBODY forgets their flight class number......'nuff said........."Clear Right".......
Newbie. FAOBC 7-69.
W/ORWAC 69-32-B1.
This is yet another milestone ignored by the MSM.