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.

Royal Air Force "ACE" leaves AOR with memories, hope for Afghan future

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Trevor Tiernan
  • U.S. Central Command Air Forces Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  "Without a doubt, Air Power is an incredible force. It's our true asymmetric capability," said Air Commodore Michael Jenkins as he passed through the Combined Air and Space Operations Center here on his way home to the United Kingdom.

He had served as the Air Coordination Element director for the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul Afghanistan. According to Air Commodore Jenkins, the differences between operations in Afghanistan and Iraq mean even greater appreciation from local people for deployed forces.

As the ISAF ACE, Air Commodore Jenkins worked with Air Force members from all countries supporting the NATO led operation in Afghanistan.

"One of the key reasons Afghanistan is slightly different is that we have been invited in by the legitimate government of Afghanistan in order to help them provide security, prosperity and a future for their people," he said. "So by and large, the people are fully supportive of the mission in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is a special case and it's a case with great support from the people."

"I've had the privilege to work with and be supported by a large amount of American resources--about 85 percent of the air power delivered in Afghanistan is delivered by the [U.S. Air Force]--and quite frankly they're second to none," he said. "The willingness, the professionalism and the attitude to deliver to the Afghan people, is just fantastic."

According to the Air Commodore, air power from all the nations involved gives a great advantage to coalition forces. The Taliban fear air power, he said, mentioning that often times Taliban fighters hear aircraft overhead and retreat. He additionally noted that air power, and space, also provide GPS navigation and communication capabilities to forces on the ground, as well as, providing cover from above.

"The most important thing about Airpower is its ability to provide precision weapons across the theater in rapid timeframes," he said. "It gives an enormous boost to the firepower available to the troops on the ground. In fact, General [David] Richards, the previous [ISAF commander], said 'we would be nowhere without air power.'

"We've saved thousands of lives through the use of air power," he continued.

One mission that directly saves lives is the close air support mission. With forces operating in extreme climate conditions and limited in the amount of weaponry and ammunition they can carry themselves, CAS provides additional firepower from above and tips the balance in the favor of the coalition forces, he said.

"Close air support is an escalatory business," said Air Commodore Jenkins. "We start off with air presence, sometimes just the sound of the aircraft will make people go away. We then use shows of force where we low fly, or fly and demonstrate our ability to find the enemy. And then if necessary, of course, we use kinetic air weapons in order to kill the enemy or to deter the enemy.

"It's fantastic, CAS is essential. Every troop that I've ever spoken to has said it's just awesome."

When conducting counter-insurgency operations in Afghanistan the Air Commodore believes it is the Afghan people who will determine success.

"If we can provide them with a clear, better system of governance within the country, prosperity and (a better) future, they will reject the insurgents that we are fighting," he said. "I think that, by and large, we're winning and that there are definite gains in Afghanistan and the people are turning on the Taliban."

In the Sangin district of Afghanistan, he said, local people turned against the Taliban, fought the Taliban and handed the Taliban over to British forces. He also mentioned similar occurrences happening in other parts of the country where local people are helping ISAF forces search for the insurgents.

"They want stability, they want security and they want prosperity," he said.

One challenge facing the Afghan people is the fact that enemy fighters often twist and distort the truth in order to make claims that attempt to discredit the international forces.

"The Taliban are very ruthless," he said. "When they don't wear uniforms, quite often other people, sympathizers, will go in and clear them of ammunition and weapons. By the time we get there the Taliban are already claiming that we've killed civilians."

Air Commodore Jenkins added that it takes time to counter these claims.

"The Taliban--because they lie and because they don't obey the laws of armed conflict--are able to gain an information advantage over us because we tell the truth," he said.

As he returns to the United Kingdom, Air Commodore Jenkins said he has hope for the future of Afghanistan and that his time as the ISAF ACE was a fantastic privilege.

"I truly believe the Afghan people want and need our support. To see the successes that air power, across it's spectrum of effects, has brought to Afghanistan has been a great privilege for me and a great reward," he said. "It's been a great time, and if it wasn't for my domestic and my family circumstances then I wouldn't want to go back. Indeed, I'd want to come out again. It's been great."