Iraqi Air Force Commander Visits San Antonio

Lt. Gen. Anwar Hamad Ameen Ahmed, Iraqi air force commander, met with Air Education and Training Command officials at JBSA-Randolph, Tex., to discuss the US-led training mission for Iraqi airmen, according to a Randolph release. This was Anwar’s fifth visit to the United States to witness first-hand the training activities for Iraqi airmen, states the July 12 release. “I am proud that I am the Iraqi air force commander,” said Anwar. “I want to build the air force. We started from zero in 2003. I am so proud when I see today the air force growing day after day. This is our future,” he said. Among the stops during his July 2-5 visit, Anwar met with Lt. Gen. Douglas Owens, AETC vice commander and toured the Defense Language Institute English Language Center at nearby JBSA-Lackland, states the release. Iraqi aircrews and aircraft maintainers train in places like Tucson Ariz., and Sheppard AFB, Tex. (Randolph report by SSgt. Clinton Atkins)