For the Iraqi airmen of Squadron 23 at Ali Base, learning to fly and maintain the three C-130s given them by the US Air Force has entailed a crucial first step: mastering the English language. Iraq Air Force leaders decided that they would not have USAF aircraft technical orders translated into Arabic, making it essential that they learn English to be able to operate and maintain the aircraft. This triggered the Defense Language Institute to send instructors to teach English to almost 500 Iraqi airmen.
The nominee to lead U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency touted the value of the organizations’ dual-hat command structure and urged caution toward creating a dedicated cyber military service in written testimony to Congress released Jan. 15.

