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CAFTT host first joint Commanders’ Conference

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tim Beckham
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq --  The Coalition Air Force Training Team and the Iraqi Air Force held their first joint commanders' conference for nearly 100 coalition and Iraqi senior leaders here May 20.

"This is the first time, based on the level to which the Iraqi Air Force has matured over the past couple of years, that it was time to have a combined Iraqi Air Force/CAFTT conference," said Brig. Gen. Robert Kane, 321st Air Expeditionary Wing and CAFTT commander. "So what we are doing today, in a lot of ways, is celebrating the success of this partnership."

Among the topics of the conference, were the successes up to this point and how to best forge a way ahead.

"This was an opportunity to lay out our campaign plan and help the Iraqi Air Force become a more influential participant in creating their own air force," said General Kane. "We think it is time for (the Iraqis) to take hold of the campaign and make it their own."

In the past, members of the CAFTT have been operating with a milestone based plan. With the implementation of the security agreement, General Kane is leading the way to reprioritize and refocus the team's efforts on accelerating the development of key operational capabilities.

"During the conference we have discussed how we should set our priorities and where we should put our resources to best help the Iraqi Air Force meet their goals," he said. "The central theme is we have been very successful in several of our significant training efforts and we are ready to turn those operations over to the Iraqi Air Force senior leaders."

The Iraqi Air Force Commander, Staff Lieutenant General Anwar, said that being included in this conference has not only taught him and his staff a lot but it will also pay dividends in the future.

"We have been working with the CAFTT as a family and have found that we are moving in the right direction," he said. "This conference is very useful for me and my staff and we are working together to help our situation and develop our air force even further."