RAF pilot contributes skill, expertise to fight

Published March 24, 2011
By Capt. Jamie Humphries
438th Air Expedtionary Wing Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Seven days a week, and more than 3,000 miles from home, he worked tirelessly as an ambassador of his language and culture.

You may think it's fiction but in reality over the last 90 days Royal Air Force Flt. Lt. Dean Curt, 438th Air Expeditionary Wing Operations, put on hold his daily routine to impact the lives of many up-and-coming Afghan Air Force officers. Having joined the military to become a pilot, Curt never thought he would be training Afghan lieutenants, let alone living with them.

Working at the Afghan Air Force Thunder Lab, Lieutenant Curt applied his efforts to immerse officers in a program designed to improve the English, aviation and professional skills while officers await pilot training.

The 25-year-old from Warlingham, Surrey, having served just 42 months in the RAF, summed up his experience.

"My post here was director of operations. This meant when the lieutenants were not being taught at the Kabul English Language Training Center, I would teach them conversational English and vocabulary, plus subjects relating to aviation such as mathematics, science and meteorology," he said

Pre-selected students typically are chosen to live at the lab based on their English comprehension test scores. The lab opened on May 15, 2010 taking the name "thunder" due to its appearance in each of the Dari, Pashto and English languages.
Work at the lab usually begins at 5:15 A.M. with physical fitness followed by breakfast. The morning and afternoon usually consists of English and pilot instruction followed by military and professional training with prayer time and dinner and simulator training. It is that simulator training that Curt found to be most challenging teaching point with his Afghan students.

"Teaching the lieutenants how to use Flight Simulator X was a challenge, said Lieutenant Curt. "For them, it is the first time that they have used computer-based training and moreover it is being taught to them in a foreign language. Therefore, it took a bit of time for them to get it right but we got there in the end!"

One of those lieutenants, Masooma Hassani, expressed her disappointment that her advisor is departing.

"He is my favorite and very best teacher...I hate to see him go," she explained.
Although the work was difficult and demanding, Lieutenant Curt found time to reflect on his time at the Afghan Air Force compound.

"The training was rewarding from the start as it was soon evident how much of an impact the Thunder Lab has on the lieutenants," he said. "The speed at which they have picked up the English language shows their determination to get to the United States or partnering nations to further their training."

As he now transitions back to the United Kingdom where he will begin pilot conversion to the Chinook helicopter at RAF Odiham, Lieutenant Curt reflects and looks forward to some of the amenities Great Britain has to offer including some home-cooked food.

"I will probably have a traditional roast dinner when I get home," he said. "I will go to my local pub for a drink with some friends."

Although the work continues here, Lieutenant Curt's supervisor summed up his thoughts on the pilot's efforts and professionalism.

"Lieutenant Curt has been an outstanding addition to the Thunder Lab," said Lt. Col. John Howard, 438th AEW. "As the Director of Operations, he has been key to the Thunder Lab's successes and has consistently demonstrated the highest qualities of leadership."

Operation Enduring Freedom