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Signal Training for Afghan Air Force members

  • Published
  • By MC3 Jared E. Walker
  • 438th AEW PA
KABUL, Afghanistan --  The flying mission is the main focus of the Afghan Air Force and with flying comes the necessity of survival training. After an aircraft crash, the first line of defense for survival is knowing how to use signaling devices during the aircrew's time on the ground. NATO Air Training Command - Afghanistan advisors and AAF Life Support members conducted a field training class on survival signaling on Nov 3.

"Today is the Afghans first time training on signaling which takes place at Blackwater Training Range which is the main training range for Afghan Air Force air crewmen" said Master Sgt. Jeremy Raymond, one of the NATC-A/438th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group Life Support Advisors.

Since signal training is aimed at survivors on the ground, the purpose of the training these Airmen is important because they in turn have to teach this to their pilots. Training involves working with survival vests, survival kits, harnesses, oxygen masks and flight equipment. The Afghan Airmen that work in Life Support maintain and configure the equipment.

The Afghans were shown how to use different types of signaling equipment to include two different types of signaling flares. One flare shot up around 1,200 to 1,500 feet, while the other flew up to about 300 feet. Daytime and nighttime smoke flares were demonstrated and used by the Afghans. They also learned how to use mirrors and use the environment around them to show their locations to rescue aircraft.

"Some of these guys have been being advised for 4-5 years, but they only within the past 7 months have gotten equipment. Two years ago, they only had 4-5 helmets but we have gotten so much new stuff that it is almost like starting from scratch" said Raymond.

Since the Afghans receive no Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape training, the Life Support Training is the closest they will receive. This exercise gave them hands on experience which they will use to train their aircrew members.