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AAF helpdesk students graduate

  • Published
  • By Capt. Jamie Humphries
  • 438th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
KABUL, Afghanistan --  Fifteen Afghan Air Force members, from the AAF Wing Communications Squadron graduated from the A+ computer training course here June 22.

Members of the AAF and NATO Air Training Mission - Afghanistan were present and included Lt. Col. Mohammad Dawood, Kabul Wing communications officer in charge of cryptology maintenance.

The course taught basic fundamentals in computer repair and networking. Upon graduation, the students are now capable of repairing desktop systems, troubleshooting, upgrading, configuring, installing and running overall basic network management processes.

AAF network technicians graduated the course with seven coming from the Kabul Wing's communication squadron help desk and eight coming from the AAF headquarters.

In total, the course lasted four months with students attending class five days a week with two days each week dedicated to practical hands-on sessions. Throughout the course, students were tested with quizzes and knowledge-based tests that had to be passed prior to graduating the course.

The course was Master Sgt. Tara Brown's brainchild. Sergeant Brown was killed April 27 while serving in an advisor role on the AAF compound. Sergeant Brown was the student attendance and administrator for the course.

"To graduate, the students were required to complete 160 hours of classroom instruction and demonstrate practical knowledge of all applicable equipment and operating procedures," said Master Sgt. Gabe Browning, 439th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron. Additionally, the students learned to work together towards one common goal and now have the satisfaction of accomplishment."

With completion of the course, officials indicate the training will now support the AAF's future helpdesk and network management structure and help communications forces more effectively impact support in AAF missions.

"After each person got their diploma, they would hold it over their head and say "I will do service for my country!" said Sergeant First Class Abdullah Wasi Haidery, Afghan Air Force. I thought it was pretty cool!"

According to advisors at the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, the training received is crucial for improving, utilizing and maintaining their future computer network and most of that work was due to the efforts of Sergeant Brown.

"There isn't a day we don't think about her and her efforts here at the wing," said Sergeant Browning. "The skills and knowledge the students now have are because of Sergeant Tara Brown."