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Afghan Airmen Return to a Hero's Welcome

  • Published
  • By Capt Rob Leese
  • 438th AEW PAO
KABUL, Afghanistan --  Over the last 27 days, members of the Afghan Air Force have been carrying out lifesaving humanitarian missions in Pakistan, demonstrating their skills and showing the world their ability to help their neighbors during the devastating floods that have affected northwestern Pakistan.

On Sept. 4, 2010, they returned to a crowd of cheering Airmen on the flight line of the AAF base in Kabul, Afghanistan. Each member received flowers and was praised during an award ceremony by the Afghan National Army Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Sher Mohammad Karimi and the AAF commander, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Darwan.

Four AAF Mi-17 helicopters crewed by 22 AAF members performed flood rescue and aid relief missions in Pakistan. During the last month, the AAF flew 393 sorties moving 1,904 passenger and aid workers, while rescuing 120 people stranded in one of the worst floods in Pakistan's history. They were also able to move over 188 tons of lifesaving aid to include food, medicine and shelter.

Brig. Gen. Michael Boera, Combined Air Power Transition Force Commander explained, "In my one year here, the Afghans have excelled in humanitarian aid missions. I knew they were ready to do this mission on their own...It shows you how much progress they have made. This mission is one of their highlights this year."

This is not the first time the AAF has performed this type of mission. Over a two-day period in July 2010, combined Afghan and Combined Air Power Transition Force aircrews rescued more than 2,100 people stranded near Jalalabad, Afghanistan.