Photo By Spc. Jason Dangel | A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from the Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division,...... read more read more
By Sgt. Jason Dangel
Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – In 1990, the Iraqi air force was the largest air force in the Middle East consisting of more than 40,000 men and 900 aircraft. Thirteen years later, and after the U.S. led coalition toppled Saddam Hussein's regime, the once impressive air force became virtually non-existent.
Since the 2003 U.S. led invasion of Iraq, a lot has changed; similar to the success of the Iraqi army's ground forces, the IAF rotary wing forces are also making great strides as they continue to rebuild and train for the responsibility of aviation operations.
In a show of partnership between the Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, and the IAF, pilots from both countries flew multiple personnel transport missions over Baghdad, Jan. 15, for the first time as a combined flight.
As the sun began to rise in the early morning horizon, residents of the Iraqi capital could look up and see how times have changed as a UH-1 Huey helicopter from the IAF's 2nd Squadron, out of Camp Taji, and a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from the CAB's 3rd Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, flew side-by-side accomplishing the mission together.
During the combined aviation mission over the Iraqi capital, the Huey, piloted by Lt. Col. Shamkky Abbas, the 2nd Squadron's training officer led the way as the two aircraft made stops at various coalition forces bases in the greater Baghdad area.
"The significance of this mission is the speed in which the air force is progressing," said Air Force Lt. Col. Michael McNerney, commander, 721st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron, from Grand Gorge, N.Y.
"While the ground forces have received a large amount of resources and attention for over five years, the air force has received very little until about a year and a half ago," he continued. "The Iraqi rotary wing force has made great strides in the last year and a half and is ready to accept a much larger role in the counter-insurgency efforts."
Obtaining these critical "resources" for the IAFs rotary wing component at Taji is a responsibility that rests solely on the members of the 721st AEAS.
The 721st AEAS, also known as a Coalition Air Force Transition Team, is responsible for aiding the development of the IAF helicopter forces at Camp Taji in order to create an organization that is a credible and effective contributor to the security of Iraq, McNerney said. Combined aviation missions are an important part of the IAFs growth.
With help from both the CAFTT and the CAB, the IAF at Camp Taji is once again beginning to resemble a force capable of providing security and stability for the people of Iraq.
"I think this event demonstrates another example of the continuing growth and maturity of the IAF," said Maj. Michael Best, executive officer, CAB, from St. Petersburg, Fla.
"Every event the IAF conducts in the battle space is a positive move in the right direction for the development of the Iraqi security forces and their role in defending their nation," he said.
Best described the event as positive for all parties involved and reiterated the importance of interaction between coalition troops and their ISF counterparts.
"It is a positive event when we can partner with the IAF," he continued. "Just as it is important for the ground brigade combat teams to have continuous interaction with their ISF counterparts, the CAB is now being afforded the same opportunity as the IAF reestablished itself."
As the IAF continues to forge new abilities and works to assume full responsibility of aviation operations in Iraq, the Iraqi people are beginning to take note of the growing force as aircraft marked with the Iraqi national flag fly overhead.
"Almost anytime we fly over, the Iraqi people come running out of their homes and wave at the aircraft," said Capt. Hank Luke, chief of training, 721st AEAS, from Indianapolis.
"I think the people feel a sense of pride and security in seeing the Iraqi flag on the helicopter's belly over their heads," he continued. "Knowing that the [government of Iraq] is projecting its security forces throughout the country is absolutely critical to keeping the insurgency at bay, and displaying Iraqi airpower is an important piece of the security plan."
| Date Taken: | 01.23.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 01.23.2009 09:24 |
| Story ID: | 29178 |
| Location: | TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 330 |
| Downloads: | 306 |
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