New unit brings new mission to Kandahar for Afghan troop increase

Published March 18, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Zachary Wilson
AFCENT Combat Camera News Team

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- Driving around Kandahar Air Field - a NATO base inhabited by several coalition partners in southern Afghanistan -one can see massive expansion and construction in every direction as part of the build-up of forces in the country. One example of this build-up occurred with the recent stand-up of a new C-130J squadron under the 451st Air Expeditionary Group.

The newest airlift squadron in the Air Force, the 772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron was officially activated March 15, but given the squadron's true expeditionary nature, local missions were being flown a day before the activation ceremony, when the squadron's first four aircraft arrived at Kandahar and began missions shortly thereafter.

"Tactical airlift is a high-demand asset here and we are at the leading edge of the Afghanistan surge of forces," said Col. Ted Osowski, 451st AEG commander, who is deployed from the Air Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. "The C-130J is a very capable aircraft and we are happy to have them - they're going to be busy."

According to the 772nd EAS' commander, Lt. Col. Dan Tulley, a Bell Air, Md., native deployed from Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., the new mission will have the 772nd EAS Airmen focused primarily within Afghanistan.

"The 'bread and butter' of any combat airlift unit is tactical airlift," said Colonel Tulley. "Being here in country will allow us to focus on the forward operating bases and getting supplies to the people who need it here on the ground."

The new unit, which will house about 120 operations and maintenance Airmen, comes from the only active-duty Air Force organization flying the C-130J model in combat: the 41st Airlift Squadron from Little Rock AFB. Before being stood up at Kandahar Airfield, the unit was stationed with the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at another installation within Southwest Asia responsible for operations for both the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters.

For the aviators performing the daily mission, the change is welcome.

"It's a definite change of scenery," said Capt. Shawn Johnson, a C-130 pilot deployed from Little Rock AFB. "We're looking forward to becoming Afghanistan-focused as our missions will become more specialized to this particular area, and at the same time, there will be more for us to study like some of the airdrops we'll be doing here. It will definitely broaden our knowledge further on how to utilize the aircraft."

Master Sgt. Patrick Drozd, a Loadmaster also deployed from Little Rock who calls Hallettsville, Texas, home, agreed.

"This is going to be fun," he said. "We are supporting the troops and the (forward operating bases) in-country, and being the only active-duty C-130J unit in theater, we will have the opportunity to lay the foundation for future C-130J operations here."

However, for the command staff of the 451st, bedding down a unit of approximately 120 new people into an already cramped area was no easy task. The first issue to be tackled was gaining ramp space for the squadron's aircraft.

Once the ramp was completed, the 451st AEG needed to create work space for the new Airmen. Chief Bohannon again reached out to the Red HORSE unit and a team of Air Force Civil Engineers who travel the area-of-responsibility. They were able to erect a clamshell tent for maintenance and two small tents for operations.

"This group was the J-2 team from (Air Forces Central) A-7," Chief Bohannon said. "They travel the (area-of-responsibility) working on large projects and were able to complete this job in three days - they were nailing the last stakes the day these guys came in."

With the logistical issues completed, all the incoming 41st Airmen had to focus on was what they deployed to do - keep their aircraft flying.

"We can fulfill air tasking orders right now," said Tech. Sgt. Donny Poland, a crew chief from Little Rock AFB and a Philippines native who deployed ahead of the rest of his squadron on the advance team. "Being here really makes it feel like we are accomplishing something important and contributing."