Operation Enduring Freedom

KABUL, Afghanistan - Lt. Col. Ryan Nichols, Commander of the 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron, speaks to members of the second graduating class of Afghan Air Force officer candidate school air orientation course at Pohantoon-e-Hawayee, the AAF's "Big Air School" in Kabul, Afghanistan Feb. 24. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications 3rd Class Jared E. Walker)

Afghan Air Force "Big Air School" graduates 66 from second orientation course

Published Feb. 27, 2011
By Capt. Rob Leese
438th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan -- The second Afghan Air Force officer candidate school air orientation course graduated 66 Afghan Airmen during a ceremony held at Pohantoon-e-Hawayee, the AAF's "Big Air School" in Kabul, Afghanistan Feb. 24.

At the graduation, 49 officer candidates school graduates and 17 Airmen made up one of the largest graduating classes.

The air orientation course is designed as the first step to service in the AAF. The course consists of over 100 hours of classroom education in a multitude of topics. Subjects included were AAF values, missions, history, ethics, leadership and introduction to aircraft. This Professional Military Education course is aimed towards the professionalization of the AAF and helps reinforce basic military duties and discipline of the Airmen.

U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Glenn Hanks, Director of Operations for the 738 Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron explained, "A fair amount of the Airmen that completed orientation are 12th grade educated, allowing them the ability to quickly become non-commissioned officers or officers. That, combined with the large number of OCS lieutenants that completed orientation, places the AAF on course to a professional force."

The graduating Airmen head to follow-on training in the various career specialties as needed by the AAF.