NATO Air Training Command and Afghan Air Force Bring Election to All Regions of Afghanistan

Published Sept. 25, 2010
By MC2 David Quillen
438th AEW PA

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Afghanistan has spent the last several years amid a democratic reconstruction of the country. Beginning in early September and continuing through most of the month, the country participated in one of the most important aspects of democracy; the vote. NATO Air Training Command- Afghanistan (NATC-A) alongside the Afghan Air Force (AAF) provided election support to all regions of Afghanistan.

This was a positive step forward for the AAF since the presidential election in which the AAF was only able to provide limited support to the Badakhshan province.

"The NATC-A detachment commanders at the locations around Afghanistan provided the planning for election support at those locations with help from the Afghans. This planning allowed the AAF to support missions in the following provinces: Kandahar, Helmand, Zabul, Nimroz, Ghazni, Laghman, Nangarhar, Badghis, Farah, Ghor and Badakhshan," explained Lt. Col. Bernard Willi, 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, NATC-A.

NATC-A's specific role was to coordinate the AAF missions with the United Nations Development Programme, International Security Assistance Force, Independent Election Commission, and ISAF Joint Command representatives. NATC-A was able to coordinate with the all coalition assets to ensure there was no "double booking" of locations which insured efficient use of the AAF rotary wing assets.

Willi describes it best; "there was much more involvement from the NATC-A mentors on this election than ones previous. This meant that the main points of contact from all the different organizations involved could contact one another in real time to ensure assets were used efficiently, no locations were missed and everyone's situational awareness on mission progress was maximized."

The NATC-A advisors and AAF airmen flew 194 hours throughout the month to ensure delivery and pick-up of 69,870 kilograms of election ballots which helped lead to a maximized dispersal to the regions of Afghanistan and a 40 percent turnout by Afghan citizens.

Brigadier General Asadullah, director of the Kabul Traffic Department, had high praise for the efforts of both NATC-A, the AAF, and the citizens of Afghanistan.

"Although the election was not perfect, the process is getting better as those Afghans involved are gaining more experience in the election process. I think by most measures it was a success and believe that as the people see the elections occur without an excessive level of violence they will be more eager to participate in them in the future."