Air Education and Training Command sent six of its military training instructors and one officer from Lackland AFB, Tex., to Camp Taji, Iraq, six months ago to launch a basic military training program for the Iraqi Air Force and graduate its first recruits, reports Lilly Flore-Janecek. The MTIs and officer returned recently, after successfully graduating 58 of 63 Iraqis from a 22-day course. Five recruits dropped out. AETC has now replaced that first team with more MTIs and another officer, with more rotations planned. The first team, of course, has “done the dirty work for all the subsequent teams,” said Lt. Col. Thomas, commander of Lackland’s 331st Training Squadron. The first team also created a warrant officer course.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
