Iraqi airmen demonstrate operational capabilities in Hellfire exercise
An Iraqi air force maintenance officer briefs weapons load checklist procedures to Tech. Sgt. Joseph Sparlin and Maj. Matthew Goddard, before a Hellfire missile launch training mission Nov. 8, 2010, in Iraq. An all-Iraqi aircrew scored a direct hit of their target on the Aziziyah Range, south of Baghdad, destroying the target in their second launch of a Hellfire missile. Iraqi airmen have trained continuously for the Hellfire mission, mastering the weapons load, target attack and airmanship skills necessary to maintain proficiency since completing their first Hellfire launch in 2009, also resulting in a direct hit of a training target. Sergeant Sparlin and Major Goddard are Air Force air advisers with the 521st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron at Kirkuk work. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. Dean J. Miller)