Iraqi helicopters benefit from tanker mechanic experience

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Randy LeMay
  • 916th Air Refueling Wing
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. --  "Other than the language and cultural barriers, it is just like my job at the 916th Air Refueling Wing," said Staff Sgt. Brian Pittman. "I train young Iraqi airmen to do the same job I perform."

Sergeant Pittman, normally a 916th Maintenance Group member is currently working as a direct support Huey maintenance avionics technician for the 770th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron in Iraq. He works 10 to 12 hours a day performing maintenance on the helicopters to keep them flying in support of the pilot training.

But fixing helicopters isn't all he does while stationed overseas. As a member of the Coalition Air Force Transition Team, I also have the responsibility of training and advising my Iraqi counterparts, he said.

The language and cultural barriers makes the mission very difficult, but not impossible.

"With a lot of hand gestures and a combination of broken Arabic and English, we communicate on a very basic level," explained Sergeant Pittman. "My Iraqi counterparts and I have formed a relationship built on a mutual understanding and purpose."

Between going out to the flight line to prepare the helicopters for morning flights and completing post flight inspections, there is hands-on training of the systems studied earlier that morning.

Early morning work in the desert heat is preferred, but Sergeant Pittman performs his job in the various climates throughout the day. "The area is very flat and rocky with very little growth except for palm trees and thistle," stated Sergeant Pittman. "It has an arid desert climate with mild winters and temperatures in the 120s for the summer."

Although he has not been through a sandstorm, Sergeant Pittman explains when the wind blows it kicks up a lot of dust, which makes it look foggy outside and blocks out the sunlight.

"Things are going as well as expected under these conditions," said Sergeant Pittman. "The Iraqi airmen seem to be getting a better grasp on their training and are starting to form a mission-oriented mindset."

It is fascinating to watch them grow into a unit and I have no doubt that one day they will be able to go on without our help, added Sergeant Pittman.

"The best thing about being here would have to be the satisfaction I get when I see what kind of an impact I have had on the trainees I work with day in and day out...."

Since becoming a member of the 916th ARW in February 2003, Sergeant Pittman has been on deployments to France, Guam and Egypt.

"The other day I flew to another location to repair and bring back one of the helicopters and I noticed the farmers in their fields would just look up at us and go about their business," said Sergeant Pittman.

When I flew back on the Huey, it was a very different story when the farmers would look up and see the Iraqi flag on the bottom of it. They would wave, yell and jump up and down because they were happy to see their air force in the sky.

But while many are pleased to see their own air force at work in their country, others still remind Sergeant Pittman that not everyone is rooting for the same team.

"We have come under indirect fire from mortars and rockets on several occasions," said Sergeant Pittman. "We have also had stray bullets from skirmishes outside the base hit the trailers where our group is housed."

"Of course being under fire would be at the top of my list as a bad thing here, but missing my family would be right up there as well," said Sergeant Pittman. "They understand why I volunteered and why I joined the military in the first place."

Sergeant Pittman takes pride in representing the U.S. Air Force and the 916th ARW, but he radiates in knowing that his work benefits not only those here at home, but a country of people in need.

It is a very satisfying experience to be able to help someone get back on their feet after they have been beaten down not only from outsiders but also from within," add Sergeant Pittman.