An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Joint team leads Afghan crew chief academy

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Oshawn Jefferson
  • USAFCENT Combat Camera Team
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  A joint team of Airmen from the 440th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron and Soldiers from the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, Task Force Falcon, took Afghan National Army Air Corps soldiers to new heights by leading the first class of Afghans through the Afghan National Security Forces Crew Chief Academy here March 6.

"This has been an amazing experience and I am extremely proud of our students," said Tech. Sgt. Garrett Cain, 440th AEAS rotary-wing crew chief mentor, deployed from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. "These ANAAC soldiers made great strides during the course and their accomplishment brings them one step closer to helping them aid in their nation's security."

The joint team of instructors led the inaugural class of five ANAAC crew chiefs through the three-week academy with classroom instruction and close to four hours of proficiency training flights in UH-60M Blackhawk helicopters. Classroom instruction included lessons in fuel management, preparing an aircraft, Army academics and multiple-aircraft operations.

"We gave them the basics to advance the ANAAC soldiers from ground crew chief to flying crew chiefs," said Army Staff Sgt. James Parker, Headquarters Company 4th Battalion, 3rd CAB crew chief deployed from Hunter Army Airfield, Ga. "We had goals of increasing their tactical proficiency and enabling future partnerships between the Afghans and the U.S. I feel we achieved both of those and I am very proud of our students and instructors."

While the instructors were proud of their students, the Afghan crew chiefs expressed their excitement in their newly honed skills.

"This academy is something we needed as a new air corps," said Sergeant Abdul Wali, ANAAC crew chief. "We had good instructors in Kabul and we had good instructors here. They helped us become better crew chiefs and now we can fly and serve our country in a better way."

Though the ANAAC soldiers will primarily use their new skills aboard their country's military helicopter, the MI-17, but training aboard UH-60 Blackhawks proved to be a unique and rewarding experience to the Afghans.

"Flying around with the (U.S.) Army and learning how they speak and act as crew chiefs was a good experience for us," said Sergeant Mohammad Yousof, ANAAC crew chief. "We got to show what we learned and show our mentor we were listening and we learned our lesson."

"They did a wonderful job during their proficiency flights," said Sergeant Parker, who is assigned to Forward Operating Base Shank, Afghanistan. "The ultimate goal is to get and keep the Afghans in the fight for their nation's security and these guys are putting in the works and showing the skills needed to make that happen."

After graduating the crew chief academy, the ANAAC crew chiefs immediately began a two-week ANSF air-assault training course at the base. The training program is designed to teach Afghan pilots, crews and ground units how to conduct tactical operations.

"The Air Force and Army are making a lot of strides in mentoring the Afghans," said Sergeant Cain, a native of San Antonio, Texas. "The professionalism and expertise deployed right now are unprecedented at this time. As we continue joint training and sharing best practices, we will continue to have successful mentoring events such as this."

The air crew academy is one of two academies within the Task Force Falcon Combined Action Program, the other being an ANSF air-assault academy. The joint team hopes to have 25 Afghan crew chiefs trained before the end of the year.

"This is only the beginning of a year that has a lot of firsts and we are learning to improve our training programs," Sergeant Parker said. "We and the Afghans know what's at stake and we will do what we have to, to ensure their future and ours."