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)
The Air Force is launching an effort to develop a new stand-off missile with a range of 1,000 nautical miles, or 1,150 miles, that would eventually be used for both air-to-air and air-to-surface missions.