Afghan officer earns U.S. Air Force wings
By Sonic Johnson, 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
/ Published June 13, 2009
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Col. Roger Watkins, 14th Flying Training Wing commander, presents Afghan National Army Air Corps Lt. Faiz Ramaki his Air Force silver wings at a special Aviation Leadership Program ceremony Friday. (US Air Force Photo/Melissa Duncan)
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Afghan National Army Air Corps Lt. Faiz Ramaki received this Aviation Leadership award from 14th Operations Group commander Col. David Reth in a special graduation ceremony June 12. The Aviation Leadership Program is a Secretary of the Air Force initiative to build foreign relations with other air forces. (US Air Force Photo/Melissa Duncan)
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Afghan National Army Air Corps Lt. Faiz Ramaki received this Aviation Leadership award in a special graduation ceremony June 12. The Aviation Leadership Program is a Secretary of the Air Force initiative to build foreign relations with other air forces. (US Air Force Photo/Melissa Duncan)
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Afghan National Army Air Corps Lt. Faiz Ramaki speaks to press following his Aviation Leadership Program graduation ceremony Jun 12. Lt. Ramaki is the first Afghan student to graduate from U.S. pilot training in almost 50 years. Lt. Ramaki will go to fly the C-27A Spartan in the Afghan Air Corps. (US Air Force Photo/Melissa Duncan)
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Afghan National Army Air Corps Second Lieutenant Faiz Ramaki shows his joy following his Aviation Leadership Program graduation ceremony Jun 12. Lt. Ramaki will go to fly the C-27A Spartan in the Afghan Air Corps. (US Air Force Photo/Melissa Duncan)
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Afghan National Army Air Corps Second Lieutenant Faiz Ramaki poses with two of his American mentors after receiving his Air Force wings at special graduation ceremony June 12. Lt. Ramaki is the first Afghan student to graduate from U.S. pilot training in almost 50 years. Major Christian Faust and CW4 (ret) Ronald Warner where stationed in Afghanistan in the Aviation Advisory Group when Lt. Ramaki was selected for the Aviation Leadership Program. (US Air Force photo/Melissa Duncan)
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --
The first Afghan officer to train in the United States in nearly 50 years earned silver Air Force wings in a ceremony June 12 at Columbus Air Force Base.
Lt. Faiz Mohammed Ramaki was presented pilot wings by Col. Roger Watkins, 14th Flying Training Wing commander, after completing the Aviation Leadership Program.
The U.S. Air Force program is a scholarship for flying training including English language training, 25 hours of flight screening in a civil aircraft such as a Cessna 172, 335 academic and ground training hours and approximately 167 flight hours and simulator sorties.
The flying portion of the program can take nine to 10 months to complete.
"The ALP program was challenging and difficult," Lieutenant Ramaki said. "Succeeding in the ALP is an accomplishment; but while this is a good day for me, it is a great day for my country."
Lieutenant Ramaki will continue flying training in his next aircraft, the Italian-built C-27A Spartan when the Afghanistan military receives the first of 20 aircraft late this summer.
When asked what he missed most from his native Afghanistan, Lieutenant Ramaki glowed at the memories of his family, his countryman, culture and language.
"It will be good to return," he said.
One of the first Afghan pilots to train in the U.S., Col. (Ret.) Ghulam Mustafa Tayer, traveled to the U.S. in 1958. Today, 61 Afghan pilot candidates will spend up to 30 months in the U.S. attending English language training before follow-on pilot training with the U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy.
Thirty experienced Afghan Army Air Corps pilots will spend up to 10 months in the U.S. attending English language training followed by aircraft instrument flight qualification and returning to the Kabul Air Wing for C-27 qualification training.
"Be proud of your accomplishments at Columbus," Colonel Watkins said. "You will go back to your country and share what you learned with other Air Corps pilots."