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Future Iraqi pilots learn to speak English

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Alyssa C. Miles
  • U.S. Air Forces Central Public Affairs
CAMP TAJI, Iraq --  Before an Iraqi air force lieutenant can begin pilot training at Kirkuk Air Base, they must first prove they have achieved one of their air force's core values - learning to comprehend and speak English.

American Airmen have helped Iraqi officers achieve this goal by serving as English class instructors and advisors at the Iraqi air force training school here.

Capt. Brian Ravak, chief of English language training, says when the future pilots begin flying internationally, being able to communicate in this language will be a necessity as the worldwide language for aviation is English. Captain Ravak is deployed from Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

"The English language training program is helping them establish a foundation, primarily for their aviators," said the native of Cambridge, Ohio. "Pilots, gunners, flight engineers and crew chiefs are all required to learn English."

A typical day in the classroom for an Iraqi lieutenant is about six hours long, with five hours of classroom time and one hour of lab. Students arrive at 8 a.m. and review grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing and dialogue exercises inside a workbook. There are more than 20 books in the curriculum and each book takes seven to 10 days to complete.

This training is stop two on the road to undergraduate pilot training. Before arriving here, students must have graduated from Rustamiyah where the lieutenants are introduced to the English language during their initial officer training course.

"We take them from where they're at -- whether they're scoring a 30 to 50 on the American Language Comprehensive Placement Test -- up to about a 60-65," said Captain Ravak. "Once they get to 60-65, they are moved to Kirkuk AB to finish language training, and move on to pilot training immediately upon finishing English language training."

Just as important as the training is the fact the Iraqis are now teaching their classes. In the eight months the captain has been here, he says there have been many transitions -- most importantly the Iraqis running this program independently -- teaching their students and maintaining student records and transcripts via electronic data management.

Emad was an electrician in Iraq before becoming an English instructor. Having learned English at an early age, he sees teaching the lieutenants as a way to pay if forward to his fellow Iraqis.

"If you have some good things in your heart, you try to show it to everyone," said Emad. "I want to teach them. English is a wonderful language. I follow what they need and try not to push them to learn my way. I want them to learn their way -- whatever is convenient for them I will do it.

"Speaking English helps them speak with people, see the way other people live," he continued. "So when they speak they can communicate with other people, they can know their culture, tradition, etc. It's basically another leg to use to walk towards unknown places."

The Iraqi lieutenants know what possibilities await for them once they complete this training.

"I think for the most part, 90-95 percent of Iraqi air force lieutenants are really excited about learning English," Captain Ravak said. "They realize it's an important opportunity for them, not just in their air force career, but once they leave the Iraqi military, it will help them succeed in life. For the most part, training is well received.

"Back in March, one lieutenant graduated and the response you saw from his peers -- it was like he just won the lottery," Captain Ravak explained. "They knew he had the opportunity to go receive pilot training."

The students aren't the only ones who understand what learning this language means for the future of Iraq.

"These people are just blossoms - small flowers," Emad said. "In the future, they're going to grow up and make another flower, and maybe one day we will have a big garden. They are the basics so when they learn English, maybe they will teach a lot of people behind us and help us to protect our country and become the foundation for our home."