More Afghan Eagles depart Kabul for America

438th Air Expeditionary Wing

Members of the Afghan air force from the Thunder Lab, an English immersion program at the Afghan air force base in Kabul, Afghanistan and their NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan advisors pose for a group photo with Lt. Jawid Karimi and Fazal Karim Faqeer (center), at the Kabul Internation Airport before Karimi and Fareer leave for further training in America. Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jared Walker

12.27.2010 Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jared Walker KABUL, Afghanistan - Two pilot candidates in the Afghan Air Force left Kabul International Airport, Dec. 27, to proceed to advanced training in the U.S.

The two AAF officers, Lt. Jawid Karimi and Lt. Fazal Karim Faqeer, are going directly to the U.S. for language training at Defense Language Institute in San Antonio, Texas, and then to pilot training at either Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. for fixed wing aircraft or Fort Rucker, Ala., for helicopters.

Both of the lieutenants

said they are excited go to America and start the next phase of their training and further improve their English.

Both AAF lieutenants also said they have fond memories of the training they experienced at the Thunder Lab provided by the NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan advisors but know they still have much more training in the U.S. before they are able to become Afghan pilots.

The next group of pilot candidates in the AAF will consist of 15 members and will be leaving Kabul in January 2011.