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Vance instructor pilot garners eight medals during deployment

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Lynn Aird
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  For his achievements during a six-month deployment with the Coalition Air Forces Training Team at Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq, Capt. Craig Morash, 25th Flying Training Squadron T-38 Talon instructor pilot at Vance, was awarded eight medals at his squadron's commander's call June 11.

Captain Morash received an Aerial Achievement Medal, a decoration awarded for sustained meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. Minimum requirements for an Aerial Achievement Medal are 20 flights of at least two hours with one flight per theater per day.

Captain Morash also received his fourth through 10th Air Medal oak leaf clusters. The Air Medal is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. The oak leaf clusters are awarded for every 20 combat sorties. While deployed, Captain Morash flew 151 sorties.

"I usually get in about 300 sorties a year here at Vance," Captain Morash said. "Considering that I was there for six months that amount of time in the air is to be expected."

During Captain Morash's time with the CAFTT approximately 50 student pilots were enrolled in the training program with rolling graduation dates similar to those at American pilot training bases.

"My class consisted of 24 students," he said. "During the six months, 12 of those students track selected into helicopters and 12 moved into the C-208," Captain Morash said.

The American instructors taught Iraqi student pilots and instructor pilots using the Cessna 172 Skyhawk and the Cessna 208 Caravan. The real challenge, according to Captain Morash, stemmed not from working with different aircraft, but rather with a completely different language and culture.

"Everyone was really dedicated to the program, though," he said. "We had a squadron of very professional instructors, and the students were eager to learn. Overall it was a very positive experience, and the CAFTT has made a lot of progress, but it's important to remember that we still have people over there."

Captain Morash graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2001 and completed Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance in 2003. He then went on to fly the A-10 Thunderbolt II at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., for three years before being assigned as an instructor at Vance. His current position is 25th FTS H-Flight commander.