Training Iraq Common ground: Former enemies bond during training

C-130s taxi for their introductory flight with the newly formed 23rd Transportation Squadron of the Iraqi air force. Airmen deployed from Pope Air Force Base, N.C., helped train troops from the Iraqi air force on C-130 maintenance. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. James McDaniel)

Blackanthem.com, POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C., July 16, 2005

As blockades create obstacles in our daily lives, the joining of two different ways of life is not only educational for the people involved, but a rewarding and unforgettable experience.

Pope maintainers were chosen based on their skill levels and backgrounds for an elite, six-month mission involving the new Iraqi air force. Later, they learned not only would they be teaching the new Iraqi 23rd Transportation Squadron on how the United States Air Force does business, they were empowered to create the entire training process.

"The more the people of Iraq see the flag on the tail of a C-130 flying around, the more confidence Iraqi civilians will have in the stability of their government," said Tech. Sgt. James McDaniel, 43rd Maintenance Operations Squadron instructor.

With little worry from the Iraqi maintenance officers that the American Airmen would talk down to them, the eager students and instructors would find common ground and build on the Iraqi air force’s mission success together. The Iraqi students had 20 or more years experience working on Russian made transport aircraft, but Sergeant McDaniel said they still had to make sure their foundation was solid based on the U.S. Air Force’s way of doing business.

"I feel the U.S. Air Force has the safest maintenance practices in the world. I couldn’t sleep once my job was done if I didn’t know that we had imparted the concepts of safety and maintenance discipline," said Sergeant McDaniel.
 

The Iraqi air force practices aerial port removal procedures with a modified forklift. The Iraqi air force worked with Airmen deployed from Pope Air Force Base, N.C. to learn the ins and outs of the C-130. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. James McDaniel)

The drive to teach, learn and share experiences relating to their aircraft specialties kicked up, though the communication levels seemed unreachable.

The Airmen shared one interpreter for 49 people within each maintenance career field. They had eight to 10 different classes teaching technical maintenance theory and hands-on training. Tech Sgt. Aaron Havens, Master Sgt. Robert Miller, Staff Sgt. Eric Mitchell and Sergeant McDaniel, all from Pope, had to put their heads together to make this happen.

"We became very creative in getting our message across," said Sergeant McDaniel, adding that communication is 80 percent non-verbal, so the instructors used pictures, translation dictionaries and job guides to show the students a theory or process. When there was frustration in the air, the sergeants would use humor to minimize it.

"We weren’t teaching how to go to the store and buy some milk, we were speaking in very technical terms," said Sergeant McDaniel. So the instructors had to teach the interpreter, and once he understood the concept, he translated it to the students.

The process was slow, but everyone adapted and overcame by learning basic words and phrases of the foreign languages. Sergeant McDaniel described the new communication method as "a mixture of broken English laced with little Arabic words," but he said it worked.

The bond that was created between students and instructors improved the communication struggle as they became closer friends.

Sergeant McDaniel was driven by the middle-eastern culture and strong sense of friendship. He said that once you are considered a friend, anything they possessed was yours if you asked for it.

"I had to be careful to not show too much interest in a watch, shirt, or it would have been handed to me," said Sergeant McDaniel. "That is amazing compared to the U.S. where materialism is the norm, and he who dies with the most toys wins." The sergeant began to see the world through their eyes.

"I am a very optimistic person, and seeing what growing up under a regime does to a person and meeting people who actually spent time in prison for personal expression of views renewed my hope and faith in democracy as the best political system for humanity," said Sergeant McDaniel. He added that traditionally within this culture, there is more attention and commitment focused on family and community rather than to any government.

Airmen deployed from Pope Air Force Base, N.C., conduct classes where the Iraqi air force crew chiefs learn how to perform a C-130 propeller change. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. James McDaniel)

"Democracy is not perfect because it is ‘we the people’ who sustain it. But being in Iraq to see the roots take hold and democracy blossom, the hope on faces and ink on fingers that freely voted for the first time; words can’t describe," he said.

The sergeant used to have a disconnected glance when watching the news, but now has a clearer vision of the overall mission and the purpose of the mission in Iraq.

The USAF Airmen were in Iraq during the day of the elections and shared the excitement and joy as the students came back from town after voting. They also were there to share the sadness as the news of tragedies in Baghdad echoed in their televisions at night.

"As Americans, we become numb to the loss of life from terrorists on the nightly news, but for my students, they knew the streets the bombs went off on and the people who lost their lives," said Sergeant McDaniel. "They understood the importance of their work and what it meant to their country."

The sergeant said many of the students had received death threats on their families by terrorists who knew their background in the old air force and had suspicions of their involvement in the new government. Sharing in their grief and pride was humbling for the Airmen living side-by-side with the Iraqis.

"It is amazing to think that the people I trained in 2005 were doing their job on the other side of the line in 2003," said Sergeant McDaniel.

Despite the prior barriers, old regime and lack of education on other’s way of life, the Airmen on both sides are now part of the same team. To begin with, they all had one thing in common; they had a mission and were expected to accomplish it.

After months of training and bonding the training paid off. The peak of Sergeant McDaniel’s Air Force career was when he flew on an Iraqi Air Force C-130 into a combat zone while being piloted by Iraqi pilots.

"Over and over they said, tell people in the U.S. about us how we appreciate the freedom we have been given and appreciate all the military has done and sacrificed for us," said Sergeant McDaniel.

The historical significance of this mission will be remembered. The prior enemies have succeeded, and in turn they have impacted each other’s lives and will always preserve the memories related to their efforts.

By Senior Airman Cassandra J. Locke
43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs