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British Flight Officers awarded for hard work in Afghanistan

  • Published
  • By MC3 Jared E. Walker
  • 438th AEW PA
KABUL, Afghanistan --  Members of NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan celebrated the accomplishments of Royal Air Force Flying Officers Matthew Smyth and Lee Southward and the impact they had on the Thunder Lab at Kabul, Afghanistan during their two months in country, Dec.13. Both officers were presented with the NATO medal for their actions.

"The Thunder Lab wanted to thank the Flying Officers in a public ceremony and give the Flying Officers an opportunity to address the Thunder Lab lieutenants. This was also an opportunity to demonstrate to the Afghan Air Force lieutenants a traditional medal presentation of the United States Air Force," said Lt. Col. John Howard, Officer-in-Charge of the Thunder Lab with the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing.

Colonel Howard said that these gentlemen established a liaison officer relationship with the Afghan Air Force Fixed and Rotary Wing Squadrons which enabled the Thunder Lab lieutenants a chance to experience flight operations.

"Additionally, they taught a morning English language tutorial class which increased the English scores of the Afghan lieutenants. Through their efforts, the Thunder Lab lieutenants had huge increases in their English scores. Specifically, one Thunder Lab lieutenant had a 20 point increase in his scores which is the highest increase in Thunder Lab history," said Colonel Howard.

Howard said that the Flying Officers have made a major impact on the Thunder Lab and their personal engagement helped improve the English comprehension levels of the Afghan lieutenants as well as prepared them for their follow-on training.

Both Smyth and Southward were also put in for the Air Force Achievement medals. They will be presented this award as soon as they have gone through the complete approval process.