The Indian Air Force (IAF) has started sending about 100 airmen to Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, to receive instruction from the 373rd Training Squadron Detachment 5, on how to operate the C-17 Globemaster IIIs.

“The IAF purchased the C-17s and they need the training because these Indian airmen are going to be the ones standing up the initial C-17 unit (in India) and we were nominated to be the schoolhouse that teaches them,” said Tech. Sgt. Paul Higgins, 373rd TRS Detachment 5 electrical environmental instructor.

The 373rd TRS Detachment 5’s mission is to provide aircraft maintenance to the Department of Defense and its allies.

“We are learning the basics of the aircraft as well as the technical manual, which is quite helpful in learning the part numbers and other technical aspects of the C-17,” said Indian Air Force Junior Warrant Officer Prakash Chand.

“What we’re learning here is going to help us to be able to maintain the C-17 aircraft in India,” said IAF Junior Warrant Officer Ranbir Singh Rana. “We have very good and experienced instructors and very good communication with them. We are catching on very quickly and when we have questions, they are able to clear up things quickly.”

The IAF expects to receive their C-17s in June 2013. India paid $4.1 billion for the aircraft, which is expected to replace their IL-76 fleet.