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COMKAF/CC: 451st AEW is important

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Angelique N. Smythe
  • 451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  Kandahar Airfield is a strategically important airfield in southern Afghanistan, and the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing, which was stood up July 2, plays a major role in the mission here.

Air Commodore Malcolm Brecht, a British International Security Assistance Force NATO officer and commander of Command Kandahar Airfield, shares reasons why the 451st AEW is so important to base operations.

Kandahar is located in the heartland of Afghanistan, in the badlands of the Taliban. This airfield allows the 451st AEW to provide immediate timely, response to warfighters on the ground.

"The 451st AEW at Kandahar Airfield is so important because you're close to where you're needed and airpower is about quick responses, adaptability and agility," Air Commodore Brecht said.

Air Commodore Brecht, who is responsible for the protection of the force, base operations and the development of the airfield, is also in charge of a ground holding unit, which protects the 650 square kilometers from rocket attacks and improvised explosive devices.

One way the 451st AEW assists him with this mission is through their Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance program in which unmanned aerial vehicles provide downlinks to the Joint Defense Operations Center, feeding information to ground troops so they may disrupt and deter attacks on the base, small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenade attacks on aircraft.

"That feed from the (MQ-1) Predator is absolutely essential, and we get quite a lot of that from the 451st, which really helps the protection that I have of all the tenants here," he said. "Of the 20,000 people based here, more than 60 percent of the population is U.S. forces. You're providing that feed not only to protect yourselves but everyone else as well."

And even as the patrolmen outside the wire are protecting those stationed on the airfield, they too are subject to attacks as their area of responsibility is much more threatening than it would be inside the wire.

Recently, when one of the air commodore's ground soldiers was severely injured by an IED attack, airpower from the 451st AEW quickly came to his rescue.

"If something goes wrong, the enemy knows you want to go in and retrieve your injured soldier," Air Commodore Brecht said. "So, the first thing we do is call for air support from the 451st. One of your A-10s was in the overhead in a flash, and then a helicopter was able to come in to pick up our injured soldier and bring him back to Role 3 (hospital)."

The 451st AEW provides support from the C-130J Super Hercules unit that performs combat airlift throughout various locations within this area of responsibility.

"The ground commander isn't interested in the first piece of equipment that arrives in theater; that's irrelevant to him," said Air Commodore Brecht. "He thinks of getting the last piece of equipment that allows him to do his job. Your Hercules provides supplies wherever they are needed."

The 451st AEW also plays a fundamental role in repatriation. Although not all of those repatriations are for fallen U.S. soldiers, as this is a coalition airfield, the 451st AEW coordinates transportation efforts with Air Mobility Command's C-130J aircraft coming in and out for the repatriation ceremonies.

"It's the confidence the soldiers have on the ground that we're providing immediate, rapid air support," said the commander. "It's the confidence that we've got the air cover so that the helicopters can come in and pick up injured soldiers. It's the confidence that when you're injured, the aero medical flight crew can get to you and provide the care that you need. It's the confidence that if in the worse case you end up with dead soldiers, we can repatriate them quickly. What I see here is agility, adaptability and professionalism in a dignified, respectful manner and quickly. And that's what the soldiers are looking for."

Within the last six months, aircraft numbers on Kandahar Airfield have more than doubled, and the ground force population has even grown far more than the air population. But months ago, the airfield was one that the commander compared to the Wild West. There were people who would do fitness runs down the taxiways and across the runways. Vehicles drove wherever they pleased. Major improvements were needed for flightline security.

"We needed help and the 451st stepped in and provided us with people, who are now tactically controlled by me," Air Commodore Brecht said.

Security forces members of the 451st AEW make up most of flightline security, but are commanded by NATO officials.

"There are British, Canadians, French and all sorts of people who show the rich tapestry of multinational leaders here, but you're the main asset," he said.

The three biggest air forces on Kandahar are the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Marine Corps, and the Combat Aviation Brigade, which are all independent units. There are also the French Air Force, the Belgium Air Force, the U.K. ... 21 different airfield operators, including the Afghan National Army Air Corps, which are now also flying through Kandahar Airfield. All the players bring something to the table, but with all the different users, cultures, backgrounds and tactical procedures, challenges can arise within this very complex environment.

"From a NATO perspective, this is a hugely complex area, and we all come with our specializations wearing our own uniforms, aware of our own needs and our own constraints," Air Commodore Brecht said. "The 451st, and the U.S. in particular, come with awesome airpower and awesome capability with willing, capable people, but you're one more of about 21 different users on the airfield."

In the first two days of his command here, Air Commodore Brecht said there was a crash of a contractor's Mi-17 helicopter, which killed 16 people on the airfield. The next day, a Tornado GR4 crashed off the end of the runway.

He had support available from firefighters and various other organizations. The 451st AEW's flightline security, flight safety and explosive ordnance teams were also readily available.

"My goal is to make the airfield safe to operate on," the British commander said. "The benefit I get from the 451st AEW is that as an Air Force organization whose main effort is to understand and deliver airpower, you actually bring more benefit because of your air specialization. It gives me a source of people to tap for assistance."

The 451st AEW also supports the build-up of the Afghan National Army Air Corps, which stood up its second wing on Kandahar Airfield Oct. 5.

"Air forces are supporting our ground forces," Air Commodore Brecht said. "They're the main efforts out there doing counter-insurgency, and I wish to thank the forces who serve. Thank you for the support you provide multi-nationally to all the ground troops."