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Afghan Air Force provides close-air support in historical combat mission

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Torri Ingalsbe
  • Air Forces Central Command Combat Camera
JALALABAD AIR FIELD, Afghanistan --  As the morning sun crested over the mountains between the Azrah and Hezarak Districts in Afghanistan, July 23, Afghan Air Force Mi-17 and Mi-35 pilots, flight engineers and gunners geared up to launch the largest Afghan-led joint, combined arms operation in 30 years - Operation Seemorgh.

"Our mission was to clear the area of Taliban and block them from the Azrah District," said AAF Lt. Col. "Hollywood" Rohullah, helicopter platoon leader and Mi-17 pilot. Rohullah said there were a total of eight aircraft involved in the first wave of the operation: two Mi-35's and six Mi-17's.

The AAF worked closely with the Afghan National Army, supporting troop movement, resupply and casualty evacuation.

"This was the first completely autonomous Afghan Air Force troop insertion in support of a major operation," said U.S. Army Capt. Tom Jones, 438th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron Kabul Air Wing Partnership team lead. "While the AAF has conducted other troop insertions and air assaults before, they would use coalition support; this time it was done all on their own."

Jones serves in an advisory role, helping to train helicopter crews, pushing toward mission sustainment for the AAF.

"I'm very proud of the Afghan pilots we've built relationships with," Jones added. "It's also humbling because we [as advisors] can't take any of the credit. They're [the AAF] the ones who are pushing so hard and dedicated to this fight. They've shown how proficient they've become."

Rohullah was also impressed with the success of the mission execution.

"We had very good crew coordination with ground forces," he explained. "There were [joint] planning meetings, and the ground forces communicated very well with the Mi-17 crews. They provided areas around the outposts for air drop targeting purposes."

The mission, although not complete, has been viewed as a success by both the AAF and the air advisors who work so closely with them.

"The Afghans have been very receptive to our assistance," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Brandon Deacon, 438th AEAS commander. "We're here to help advise, but they've really stepped up to the plate. We can only take partial credit."

This historic mission marks one of many milestones on the way to a fully self-sustaining AAF, with a myriad of mission capabilities.

"The Afghan people have a lot to be proud of," Jones said. "The AAF has demonstrated they have the fortitude to fight for their country and their homeland, and that's something to be proud of."