KABUL, Afghanistan - 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 Lieutenant Jawid Karimi and Fazal Karim Faqeer (center), at the Kabul International Airport before Karimi and Fareer leave for further training in America. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 3rd Class Petty Officer Jared Walker/ RELEASED).

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan Air Force Lieutenant Fazal Karim Faqeer says good bye to Spc. James Harris, one of his advisors from the Thunder Lab, an English immersion program at the Afghan Air Force Base in Kabul, Afghanistan, at the Kabul International Airport Dec. 27 before he leaves for further training in America. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 3rd Class Petty Officer Jared Walker/ RELEASED).

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan Air Force Lieutenant Jawid Karami says good bye to one of his fellow Lieutenants from the Thunder Lab, an English immersion program at the Afghan Air Force Base in Kabul, Afghanistan, at the Kabul International Airport Dec. 27 before he leaves for further training in America. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 3rd Class Petty Officer Jared Walker/ RELEASED).

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

More Afghan Eagles depart Kabul for America

Published Dec. 27, 2010
By Mass Communications Specialist 3rd Class Petty Officer Jared E. Walker
438th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan -- On Dec 27, two pilot candidates in the Afghan Air Force left Kabul International Airport to proceed to advanced training in the U.S.

The two AAF officers, Lieutenant Jawid Karimi and Lieutenant 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.