Iraqi air force primed for power

ALI AIR BASE, Iraq -- Iraqi students learn how to build a power distribution network April 20. The students were part of a prime power class designed to teach Iraqi servicemembers how to generate, maintain and distribute power in order to operate their bases after the U.S. withdrawal scheduled for Dec. 31, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau)

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Iraqi air force primed for power

ALI AIR BASE, Iraq -- Tech. Sgt. Randall Weston, 467th Expeditionary Prime Base Emergency Engineer Force Squadron electrical systems craftsman, strips insulation off a power distribution cable to teach Iraqi students how to build connectors for generators April 20. The students were part of a prime power class designed to teach Iraqi servicemembers how to generate, maintain and distribute power in order to operate their bases after the U.S. withdrawal scheduled for Dec. 31, 2011. Sergeant Weston is deployed from the 436th Civil Engineer Squadron, Dover Air Force Base, Del., and is a native of Fort Wayne, Ind. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau)

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Iraqi air force primed for power

ALI AIR BASE, Iraq -- Tech. Sgt. Randall Weston, 467th Expeditionary Prime Base Emergency Engineer Force Squadron electrical systems craftsman, shows Iraqi students how to strip insulation off a power distribution cable April 20. The students were part of a prime power class designed to teach Iraqi servicemembers how to generate, maintain and distribute power in order to operate their bases after the U.S. withdrawal scheduled for Dec. 31, 2011. Sergeant Weston is deployed from the 436th Civil Engineer Squadron, Dover Air Force Base, Del., and is a native of Fort Wayne, Ind. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau)

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Iraqi air force primed for power

ALI AIR BASE, Iraq -- An Iraqi student attaches a connector to a power distribution cable April 20. The students were part of a prime power class designed to teach Iraqi servicemembers how to generate, maintain and distribute power in order to operate their bases after the U.S. withdrawal scheduled for Dec. 31, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau)

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Iraqi air force primed for power

ALI AIR BASE, Iraq -- Iraqi students pump oil into a power generator April 20. The students were part of a prime power class designed to teach Iraqi servicemembers how to generate, maintain and distribute power in order to operate their bases after the U.S. withdrawal scheduled for Dec. 31, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau)

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Iraqi air force primed for power

ALI AIR BASE, Iraq -- Iraqi students stand among power distribution cables during training April 20. The students were part of a prime power class designed to teach Iraqi servicemembers how to generate, maintain and distribute power in order to operate their bases after the U.S. withdrawal scheduled for Dec. 31, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau)

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Iraqi air force primed for power

ALI AIR BASE, Iraq -- Iraqi students learn how to assemble power distribution cables at a power plant April 20. The students were part of a prime power class designed to teach Iraqi servicemembers how to generate, maintain and distribute power in order to operate their bases after the U.S. withdrawal scheduled for Dec. 31, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau)

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Iraqi air force primed for power

Published May 2, 2011
By Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau
321st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

ALI AIR BASE, Iraq -- Six U.S. instructors prepped Iraqi servicemembers for self-sufficiency by teaching students the basics of running generators for power production.

The class, which involved servicemembers from all over Iraq, was designed to provide an introduction to power production, enabling the Iraqi military to generate their own power and be safe in the process.

The students, whose experience ranged from having a grasp on the concepts to no knowledge at all, will learn to maintain a base power plant and get the power where it needs to go.

"We're trying to show them the right way to do it and make sure they maintain that information," said Tech Sgt. Randall Weston, 467th Expeditionary Prime Base Emergency Engineer Force Squadron, Joint Base Balad, Iraq.

The Fort Wayne, Ind., native said they often return to items they taught earlier in the course to quiz the students and make sure they remember what they were taught.

"We're training them to take over the bases once we leave," said Sergeant Weston, deployed from Dover Air Force Base, Del.

But a course like this does not appear from thin air. The instructors spent time before the class developing a training plan.

One of those instructors was Sgt. Jessie Correia of the U.S. Army's 249th Engineer Battalion, Delta Company.

"We knew what we wanted to teach them," said Sergeant Correia, so he and another instructor built the classes based on skills they use every day.

"Some of the words and technical terms don't translate too well," the Fall River, Mass., native said, so the instructors used their expertise to develop a training plan that would not get lost in translation.

"Our goal is to teach these guys enough to be safe and be aware of their surroundings," said Sergeant Correia. "When these bases are set to turn over, they can start producing reliable power for themselves."

The 32 students graduated May 2. Now they will return to their respective bases, enabling Iraq's military to power their mission.