ANAAC comandos

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cain Garrett from the 438th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group, Combined Air Power Transition Force, directs Afghan commandos from the 6th Commando Kandak toward an Afghan National Army Air Corps Mi-17 helicopter April 1, 2010, in the Pul-e Alam district of the Logar region. The commandos conducted an air-assault mission to disrupt insurgent activity and bring stability to the population in the region. (US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Quillen/ RELEASED)

ANAAC comandos

An Afghan National Army Air Corps Mi-17 helicopter lifts off after an air-assault mission involving the Afghan 6th Commando Kandak April 1, 2010, in the Pul-e Alam district of the Logar region. The mission disrupted insurgent activity to bring stability to the population and the region. (US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Quillen/ RELEASED)

Afghan Air Corps trains for, conducts air assault

Published April 7, 2010
By U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class David Quillen
NATO Training Mission Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan -- The Afghan National Army Air Corps would be considered small with its 3,000 soldiers in comparison to its parent command, the National Army, which boasts more than 100,000 active troops with the goal of reaching 134,000 troops by October of this year.

But its size is misleading, as the Air Corps has made some rather large accomplishments already this year, including reaching 3,000 personnel, developing a brand new flight surgeon program and transitioning their C-27 training program into an operational arm of the Air Corps.

The Air Corps carries that momentum forward by providing operational assistance to Afghan commandos who took part in their first large-scale assault with Coalition forces as part of Afghanistan's continued goal of a secure future.

The Air Corps participated in air assaults before, but on a smaller scale than what was conducted in the morning hours of April 2.

The assault was a joint effort between the Air Corps MI-17 helicopter and the Afghan Sixth Kandak Commandos, along with American forces from Operational Detachment Alpha 3336 Special Forces, as well as Ah-64 Apache, UH-60 Blackhawk and Ch-47 Chinook helicopter support from Task Force Brawler.

The number of troops transported and infiltrated into the village of Babus in the Pul-e- Alam district of Logar province by helicopter totaled 101 soldiers, making it the largest air assault by the Air Corps to date in the outer regions of Kabul.

The assault's purpose was to deter increased insurgent activity in the area of Babus village - intelligence sources claimed as many as 20 insurgents were believed to be in the area. The assault was designed to disrupt their activity and hopefully take a significant step towards maintaining stability for the population and the region.

Expectations were high that American and Afghan Soldiers would encounter resistance from the purported insurgents but the mission was completed peacefully. It was even considered a large success by the senior leadership of TF Brawler. American troops were able to develop a strong rapport with the elder and senior leadership of Babus village, a first, as the village had been largely against involvement with Coalition forces.

Even though no direct action against the enemy was taken, the intelligence and support gathered from the villagers could be more important in long-term operations.

The mission was the first but will not be the last of its kind for the Air Corps, as more joint operations are being developed and the Air Corps takes a larger role in Afghanistan's security and defense, not only in operational missions but also in the development of the ANA soldier through the ability to provide practical training using the MI-17 helicopter.