Lackland Air Force Base, Texas –
A group of hand-picked military training instructors from the 331st Training Squadron at Lackland AFB is en route to Camp Taji, Iraq, to begin training Iraqi Air Force recruits, also known as jundis.
"The mission is to stand up the Iraqi air force to make it a viable armed service of the Iraqi military defense that allows them to use airmen and aircraft to assure their national security whether it's against internal threats or external threats," said Col. Robert J. MacDonald, commander of the 737th Training Group.
The six MTIs and an officer headed out March 20 to perform the historic mission. Two advance personnel are already in Iraq preparing for the special assignment. They will have 179 days to help train an estimated 1,000 to 1,200 Iraqi airmen annually.
"I'm excited to go do the mission that we're going to do in Iraq because it's unique," said Tech. Sgt. Kevan Dent. "We're going to be the first ones on the ground. We're going to have direct input on the outcome of the future Iraqi air force."
Team Lackland will begin its modified air force basic training in Iraq with a flight of 45 jundis who have already undergone some general military indoctrination training.
According to Lt. Col. Thomas Schmidt, commander of the 331st TRS, the four-week curriculum has been carefully tailored to best meet the needs of the Iraqi air force, which the United States is helping rebuild.
"We want to develop military professionals there and we also want to develop airmen with warrior ethos," said Colonel Schmidt.
Language and cultural differences were of course taken into consideration in fine-tuning the special Iraqi curriculum. Still, despite anti-women practices in the host country, a female MTI is a member of the team that will be training jundis.
"If you wish to (instill) in the people you are trying to train, cultural sensitivity, human rights relationships, there is no better example than Air Force military training instructors in cadre," said Colonel MacDonald. "There is no better example than a female one there to show the level of trust the responsibility that they hold."
Staff Sgt. Laura Saucedo has two years experience as an MTI and said she is excited and anxious about the special mission and opportunity to do her part.
"I know that I'm capable of training an outstanding group of individuals to be productive Airmen in the Air Force whether it be our Air Force or the Iraqi air force," said Sergeant Saucedo. "It's going to be a challenge but a challenge that I'm definitely willing to accept and we're going to do some big things."
Meanwhile, her military husband, who was deployed two years ago for six months, and two young daughters have been left behind.
"She's a tough woman and she can take care of herself," said Staff Sgt. Rick Saucedo. "I just gotta be super dad for a little bit."
The spouse of another MTI deploying this week expressed her concern about her husband's safety in a lighthearted comment.
"I want him to be safe. Instead of holding his head up high, I want him to duck and cover - make sure that he comes home to his family," said Joanna Apticar, spouse of Tech. Sgt. Justin Apticar.
"I absolutely think that we are sending an all-star team out there," said Colonel Schmidt. "The Iraqi air force, the folks that we work with out there will be working with the finest. I have no doubt that these folks will perform exceedingly well. They will make my squadron proud, they them will make BMT proud and they will make our nation proud."