Hungarian partners

The 10 members of the new Hungarian training detachment of the Combined Air Power Transition Force, Stand before an Mi-35 attack helicopter on the Afghan National Army Air Corps base in Kabul, Afghanistan May 01, 2010. The Hungarians are deployed from the Home Defense Force, 86 Helicopter Regiment, Szolnok Helicopter Base and this is the first mission for the regiment outside of Hungary. (US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Quillen/ RELEASED)

Hungarians Join the NTM-A Mission

Published May 1, 2010
By U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class David Quillen
NATO Training Mission Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan -- One of the many goals of the NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan is to develop the Afghan National Army Air Corps into a legitimate operational force capable of promoting the Afghan governments agenda to not only the rest of the country, but to the world stage as well.

In 2007 the Combined Air Power Transition Force was created in order to meet that goal by bringing several nations together to provide the knowledge and foundation of that development. A few of these nations include the United States, Canada, Ukraine, and Czech Republic.

Now Hungary has joined the mission.

"We have come to Afghanistan as instructors to train the Afghans in the proper use of the Mi-24, as both air and ground crew. We use the same craft back home, so it was a natural transition for us to come here to teach" said Major Bela Lazar of the Hungarian Home Defense Force, 86th "Szolnok" Helicopter Base.

The Afghan Air Corps uses the NATO-named Mi-35 Hind E attack helicopter, which shares the same airframe as the Hungarian's Mi-24.

The Hungarians have agreed to a provisional year long contract, with three teams of ten instructors to cycle through the year in four month rotations. The Hungarians hope to capitalize on the lessons learned from both their American and Czech counterparts and have designed their instructions accordingly.

"We have been training for many months, a year even on those lessons learned by other Nations that use the Mi-24 and how they work here [in Afghanistan]" explained Lazar "we need to be successful here."

The enthusiasm is apparent when Lazar talks about the experience of being in Afghanistan as this will be the 86th Helicopter Regiment's first mission outside of Hungary and the team members have high hopes and expectations for themselves.

Lazar has seven years of experience as an instructor and along with the rest of his team who are equally experienced; they feel well prepared to handle the challenge.