28 graduate as 1st AAF air orientation OCS class Published Jan. 21, 2011 By Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Vladimir Potapenko 438th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs KABUL, Afghanistan -- Twenty-eight Afghan Air Force Airmen graduated as part of the first air orientation officer candidate school class in the history of the AAF during a ceremony held at Pohantoon-e-Hawayee, the AAF's "Big Air School" in Kabul, Afghanistan Jan. 20. Without their future careers assigned, the graduating Airmen were asked what fields they would like to enter. Given the opportunity, many Airmen expressed their desire to be pilots and aircraft engineers, an example of what AAF Col. Arif Angar believes is the drive and ambition of the Afghan Air Force. "The Afghan Air Force is ready and very much needs young professional officers, and you have shown through your progression of the course that you are capable of being just that," said Colonel Angar. The Airmen next head to follow-on training in the various specialties that they will soon be assigned. Regardless of their looming careers decisions, U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Ryan Nichols, commander of the 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron, and guest speaker at the graduation, stressed the importance of implementing the skills they acquired during OCS. "My request is for you to put whatever you have learned and put it into use for the betterment of the Afghan Air Force," said Colonel Nichols. "Are you ready for your next level of training, for your next level as Airmen?" Colonel Angar emphatically asked twice. " Yes!" the Airmen yelled.