Laughlin Airmen train Iraqi pilots Published Sept. 11, 2009 By Airman 1st Class Sara Csurilla 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- Forty-nine Laughlin Air Force Base Airmen are helping the Iraqi air force take flight. Lt. Col. Christopher Spigelmire, a 47th Flying Training Wing instructor pilot, and other Airmen deployed from Laughlin AFB are part of an Iraqi training and advisory mission. Colonel Spigelmire said he is "having a blast" as the commander of the 521st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron at an Iraqi air base. "My squadron recently took on advisory duties to the Iraqi flying training school, in addition to the operational squadron that is training to shoot missiles off their Cessna Caravans." Compared to his job at Laughlin AFB as an instructor pilot, he said there are almost as many similarities as there are differences at teaching in Iraq. "We are flying C-172s and C-208s with the Iraqi air force," Colonel Spigelmire said. "The big difference is that we are dealing with a totally different culture and we have to learn to adapt to their ways of doing things -- not the other way around. The story is about them, not us." Even with a similar mission, a day in the life of a deployed Airman is always different from that of an Airman at their home station. "In their culture, a relationship of trust must be developed before any real work can be done," he said. "So on a typical day, I spend most of my time with the Iraqi squadron commanders, helping them by providing all the advising they need and want. The rest of my time is spent checking up with my team to ensure everything is going well and doing a little flying, too." By performing these duties day in and day out, the colonel said he learned quite a few lessons. "One lesson I have been reminded of since my arrival is how blessed we are to be Americans," he said. "The Iraqis are literally starting from scratch, and in some cases certain things and services we take for granted are just non-existent over here." Spending more than 50 percent of his time on U.S. Air Force and Iraqi air force relations, he said he also learned how the relationships we build today can benefit us tomorrow. "How we conduct ourselves and the relationships we develop today will determine how successful our Air Force is in partnering with Iraq in the future," Colonel Spigelmire said. In addition to these lessons learned, he said he had the opportunity to gain new experiences and hear the humble stories of the Iraqi men he works with everyday. "Many of the Iraqi pilots make great sacrifices to come to work," Colonel Spigelmire said. "One pilot I know moves his family about once a month so that nobody gets to know them because he is afraid they will be harmed if people know he is in the air force. Another pilot lets people believe that he is a farmer and travels way out of his way to complete the charade and come to work." Colonel Spigelmire said those are just two stories of the sacrifices the Iraqis are making and it is satisfying to see the pride the Iraqis have in their country and their air force. "We are part of an expeditionary Air Force and I'm excited to teach such a proud and growing Iraqi air force that has only 2,500 folks in it," he said. "They are only the nucleus of what is to come."