Buddy Rivera, who formerly worked at the Navy’s international education and training center in Pensacola, said the programs teach allied military personnel to operate under a common language and procedures, which are critical in joint missions. He said the programs pay dividends as people who train in the United States rise in the ranks of their security forces. “They are a person of influence today or they are going to be a person of influence tomorrow,” Mr. Rivera said. Sameh Haitham, whose 19-year-old son, Airman Mohammed Haitham, was killed in last week’s shooting, said he was angry and heartbroken. The suspect in the Pensacola shooting, identified as Second Lt. Mohammed Alshamrani, arrived in the United States in 2017, first taking language classes in Texas before coming to Florida for a series of training programs, most recently including strike-fighter training.

Source: International New York Times December 12, 2019 07:52 UTC