17 Afghan military officers go AWOL from Dallas Air Force base

Washington, June 18 (ANI): A nation-wide alert has been issued for 17 members of the Afghan military who have gone AWOL (Absence Without Leave) from a Texas Air Force base where foreign military officers training to become pilots are being taught English.

FoxNews.com reports that the Afghan officers and enlisted men have security badges that give them access to secure U.S. defense installations, according to the lookout bulletin titled "Afghan Military Deserters in CONUS [Continental U.S.]," issued by Naval Criminal Investigative Service in Dallas.

The Afghans were attending the Defense Language Institute (DLI) at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. The DLI program teaches English to military pilot candidates and other air force prospects from foreign countries allied with the U.S.

"I can confirm that 17 have gone missing from the Defense Language Institute.They disappeared over the course of the last two years, and none in the last three months," said Gary Emery, Chief of Public Affairs, 37th Training Wing, at Lackland Air Force Base.

"The visas issued to these personnel have been revoked, or are in the process of being revoked.

Lookouts have been placed in TECS," the bulletin said.

Included in the bulletin are photos of the 17 men, accompanied by their dates of birth and their TECS Lookout numbers. (ANI)