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379th EOSS provides Afghan Army Air Corps training tools

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Spencer Gallien
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  The 379th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron recently began a program sending thousands of dollars worth of training equipment to Airmen and allies throughout the AOR.

The latest shipment, a pallet containing items ranging from a sink approved to wash aircrew oxygen masks to survival equipment an aircrew may need in case of emergency, will be delivered to Kabul, Afghanistan, for International Security Assistance Force aircrew flight equipment trainers to teach Afghani trainers to train their airmen.

"This is our first shipment going to Kabul. So far, we've also sent shipments to Tikrit, Iraq, and Kandahar, Afghanistan," said Master Sgt. Lorna Gomez, 379th EOSS Aircrew Flight Equipment superintendent. "We've been blessed to have extra equipment here that we're able to send to our counterparts downrange."

The transfer of extra equipment to AFE members downrange was a collective idea, conceptualized as servicemembers travelled through Southwest Asia.

"Different Airmen deploying to forward bases would stop by our shop, as they were travelling through Southwest Asia," said Sergeant Gomez. "As they would stop by the shop and say hi, they would make mention of what their needs are downrange. As we got extra equipment in, we began putting together shipments to meet their needs.

"At the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, we've been lucky enough to readily receive the tools we need to accomplish the mission," she added. "So, as we receive a surplus of equipment, we ship it to other AFE shops that can't get equipment as readily as we can here."

The latest shipment is valued at more than $70,000.

After the Afghanistan Army Air Corps AFE trainers have completed their ISAF lead course using the equipment, they will turn it over to their counterparts in the Afghani Army Air Corps.

"Ultimately, this equipment will be transferred directly to the Afghanistan Army Air Corps," said Tech. Sgt. Eric Bailey, 379th EOSS AFE craftsman. "Eventually, their trainers will be able to teach new Afghani airmen on the equipment we're shipping to them now."

The AFE flight began the shipments a month ago and plans to continue sending equipment to "barren" shops throughout the AOR.

"As we receive requests from downrange for equipment, we will go through our stores and ship used and old equipment downrange to help our forward-deployed Airmen," Sergeant Gomez said.

"The whole AFE career field is united, and we are proud to serve with and help out our counterparts."