Airmen teach Iraqi counterparts networking skills

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Mindy Bloem
  • 506th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
KIRKUK AIR BASE, Iraq (AFNS) --  Airmen from the 506th Expeditionary Communications Squadron taught communication techniques to Iraqi air force members Jan. 30 at a command section at Kirkuk Air Base. 

The laptop training was another step in the nation building component of the Air Force's mission to foster Iraqi self sufficiency.

"We think it's important because it's part of our mission here; to build nations and enable our Iraqi partners to be self sustaining," said Maj. John Tran, 506th ECS operations flight commander. "It's the old adage of instead of giving them a fish, we're teaching them how to fish."

The 506th ECS staff is conducting six training sessions, twice a month, that touch on various areas of communication techniques.

Senior Airman Andre Taylor, a 506th ECS computer switching and cryptographic technician, volunteered to instruct the Iraqis in some of the basic configurations of communication methods.

Airman Taylor had just gotten off a 14-hour shift but wanted to stay to instruct his Iraqi counterparts.

"It gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling," he said. "It's not every day that you get to come to Iraq and help somebody. I want to use this opportunity to excel, show what I know, and pass it on to someone else."

The instruction will start small and progress gradually after each session, with the end goal being self support.

"They should be able to maintain their own networks by the time we're done teaching them," Airman Taylor said. "They should be able to build them up from the ground, and then maintain them to the highest capabilities.

"It's going to be weird," he said. "I want to get a baseline of what they know before I open my mouth and start spouting off random information. But I'm looking forward to passing on what I know to help them build up their infrastructure and get things going in Iraq the way they're supposed to go."

During the first classroom session, the Iraqis seemed ready to learn and asked questions throughout the instruction period. 

"They are extremely excited," Major Tran said of the Iraqis. "They are definitely fast learners. So on the technical side, they're learning things; on the not so technical side, they're bonding with our troops, getting along well and building friendships.

For Airman 1st Class Chris Redman, also a 506th ECS computer switching and cryptographic technician, the training serves as barometer for where the Iraqis are in their understanding of basic communication.

"It's important to see what level of communication they're at and help them get to a higher level. If they are at a high level already, then we can help them improve on that. We are just giving them our knowledge so they can go do this on their own once we're gone."