Iraqi Air force 2nd Lt. Omar AlNuaimi graduated July 24 from his specialized undergraduate pilot training class at Columbus AFB, Miss., becoming the first Iraqi pilot to complete the Air Force Aviation Leadership Program. “It feels great [to graduate],” said AlNuaimi. He added, “Since the Iraqi Air Force was founded, until this moment, we haven’t had students who have graduated from the US. It’s been great and wonderful to be trained and get my wings.” AlNuaimi will now help to train the Iraqi airmen at Kirkuk AB, Iraq. “I have gained good experience, and I will be glad to take all this experience back to my country and teach,” he said. He credits the men and women whom he encountered during his training in the US for his success. (Columbus report by SrA. Jacob Corbin)
U.S. Southern Command recently announced its first lethal strike on a suspected narco-trafficking vessel in two months, and the first under a newly formed permanent counter-cartel task force. The U.S. is also reportedly planning to transfer MQ-9 drones to Colombia to bolster its counter-cartel efforts.