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Just right

006 - U.S. Air Force Reserve Tech. Sgt. Joseph Aldarondo, 440th Air Expeditionary Advisor Squadron propulsion specialist, places an engine inlet cover on an Afghan air force C-130 Hercules at Kabul International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 2. Aldarondo is one of 30 members of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard deployed to Kabul under the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing and NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan. The Guardsmen leverage their experience with the C-130 airframe to keep the AAF flying and to get a sustainable training and education program up and running for the future. Aldarondo is deployed from the 156th Airlift Wing, Muniz Air National Guard Base, in Carolina, Puerto Rico. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration/Senior Master Sgt. Mike Hammond) *Editor's Note: photo has been altered to obscure flightline access badge only, for privacy considerations*
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Bringing her in!

U.S. Air Force Reserve Senior Airman Francisco Barriento, 440th Air Expeditionary Advisor Squadron crew chief, marshals an Afghan air force C-130 Hercules on the flightline of Kabul International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 2. Barriento is one of 30 members of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard deployed to Kabul under the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing and NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan. The Guardsmen leverage their experience with the C-130 airframe to keep the AAF flying and to get a sustainable training and education program up and running for the future. Barriento is deployed from the 156th Airlift Wing, Muniz Air National Guard Base, in Carolina, Puerto Rico. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. Mike Hammond)
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Taking stock

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Matthew Dietrich and an Afghan air force airman inventory some of the more than 24,000 pieces of maintenance equipment transferred to the AAF supply system, July 22, 2014. The AAF formally began independently operating and maintaining its fleet of Mi-17 helicopters at Balkh Air Base, Afghanistan, after working with U.S. Air Force advisors of the NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan and 438th Air Expeditionary Wing. (Courtesy photo/U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. William Miller)
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Flying into the future

Afghan air force Mi-17 helicopters operate at Balkh Air Base, Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan, in July, 2014. The AAF formally began independently operating and maintaining its fleet at Balkh, after working with U.S. Air Force advisors of the NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan and 438th Air Expeditionary Wing. (Courtesy photo/U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. William Miller)
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First Kabul all-Afghan C-208 crew

Afghan Air Force 1st Lt. Emal Khairkhwa, 373rd Fixed Wing Squadron pilot, communicates with the control tower as AAF 1st Lt. Mohammad Tawfiq Safi, copilot, looks on before a Cessna 208 mission out of Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan, Aug 6, 2013. This mission marked the first all AAF fixed wing combat mission flown from the Kabul Air Wing. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Ben Bloker)
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AAF

Afghan Air Force 1st Lt. Shafiqullah mentors Sgt. Naqeebullah on an Mi-17 rotor assembly at Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan, July 18, 2013. Shafiqullah and Naqeebullah are both Kabul Air Wing engine mechanics. Intermediate maintenance inspection advisors from the 440th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron are focusing efforts on building stronger quality control programs across AAF aircraft maintenance. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Ben Bloker)
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AAF

Afghan Air Force 1st Lt. Musa, Kabul Air Wing electrician, measures a fuse from an Mi-17 helicopter instrument panel during routine maintenance and repair at Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan, July 18, 2013. Intermediate maintenance inspection advisors from the 440th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron are focusing efforts on building stronger quality control programs across AAF aircraft maintenance. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Ben Bloker)
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AAF

Afghan Air Force Sgt. Naqeebullah, Kabul Air Wing engine mechanic, peers through an Mi-17 helicopter window in a maintenance hangar at Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan, July 18, 2013. Intermediate maintenance inspection advisors from the 440th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron are focusing efforts on building stronger quality control programs across AAF aircraft maintenance. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Ben Bloker)
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AAF

Afghan Air Force Sergeant Samiullah, Rotary Wing Squadron aerial gunner, readies an Mi17 helicopter for an early morning mission out of Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan, July 13, 2013. Second quarter AAF airlift missions increased more than 50 percent over the first quarter. Casualty evacuation missions alone reached 460 compared to 192 in the first quarter. Maj. Gen. Abdul Wahab Wardak, Afghan Air Force commander, attributed the growth to an aggressive training program. “[We] have always focused more on training young pilots and young flight engineers so they can perform better in the future for the Afghan Air Force,” said Wahab. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Ben Bloker)
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AAF

Afghan Air Force Col. Haji Bakhtullab, Rotary Wing Squadron commander, along with other Mi17 helicopter aircrew, await the arrival of the Afghan Minister of Defense and other distinguished visitors flying as passengers from Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan, July 21, 2013. Second quarter AAF airlift missions increased more than 50 percent over the first quarter. Casualty evacuation missions alone reached 460 compared to 192 in the first quarter. Maj. Gen. Abdul Wahab Wardak, Afghan Air Force commander, attributed the growth to an aggressive training program. “[We] have always focused more on training young pilots and young flight engineers so they can perform better in the future for the Afghan Air Force,” said Wahab. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Ben Bloker)
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AAF

Afghan Air Force Maj. Fareed Sameem, Rotary Wing Squadron pilot, preflights a Mi17 helicopter before a functional check flight mission after routine maintenance at Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan, July 20, 2013. Second quarter AAF airlift missions increased more than 50 percent over the first quarter. Casualty evacuation missions alone reached 460 compared to 192 in the first quarter. Maj. Gen. Abdul Wahab Wardak, Afghan Air Force commander, attributed the growth to an aggressive training program. “[We] have always focused more on training young pilots and young flight engineers so they can perform better in the future for the Afghan Air Force,” said Wahab. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Ben Bloker)
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AAF

Afghan Air Force soldiers Nasir and Jafar transfer a casualty evacuation patient from a Cessna 208 at Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan, July 13, 2013. Second quarter AAF airlift missions increased more than 50 percent over the first quarter. CASEVAC missions alone reached 460 compared to 192 in the first quarter. Maj. Gen. Abdul Wahab Wardak, Afghan Air Force commander, attributed the growth to an aggressive training program. “[We] have always focused more on training young pilots and young flight engineers so they can perform better in the future for the Afghan Air Force,” said Wahab. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Ben Bloker)
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Ready to test

Afghan Air Force Kabul Air Wing’s Maj. Farid and Capt. Abdul Nasir stand on the flightline of the Kabul, Afghanistan, International Airport, Jan. 10, 2013, before beginning their final syllabus flight to become a certified functional check flight test pilot and engineer, respectively. In their first weeks since graduation, Farid and Nasir, helped return three Mi-17 helicopters to service following the completion of ‘phase’ or scheduled aircraft maintenance. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder)
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Testing to test

Afghan Air Force Capt. Abdul Nasir, assigned to the AAF’s Kabul Air Wing, performs a pre-flight inspection of an Mi-17 helicopter at the Kabul, Afghanistan, International Airport, Jan. 10, 2013. In their first weeks since graduation, the Afghan Air Force Kabul Air Wing’s first functional check flight test pilot, Maj. Farid, and test flight engineer, Nasir, helped return three Mi-17 helicopters to service following the completion of ‘phase’ or scheduled aircraft maintenance. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder)
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Academic Mi-17 maintenance check

Afghan Air Force students work on class materials during an eleven week Mi-17 helicopter ‘Engine & Body’ maintenance course at Kabul, Afghanistan, International Airport Nov. 11, 2012. Afghan course instructors partnered with Mongolian Air Force mentors to conduct the class. The Afghan AF’s newest 16 Mi-17 helicopter technicians crossed a stage Dec. 20, 2012 at the airport. (Courtesy photo)
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Joining the ranks of Mi-17 helicopter maintainers

Fellow Afghan Air Force members attend an Mi-17 helicopter ‘Engine & Body’ class graduation Dec. 20, 2012 at Kabul, Afghanistan, International Airport. Sixteen students graduated after successfully completing 250 hours of training on avionics, engine and aircraft body work. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mekpongsatorn)
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Graduation moment

Afghan Air Force Col. Mahmood Rahman (right), commander of Afghanistan’s Air University ‘Pohantoon-e-Hayayee’, places a graduation pin on the uniform of one of the 16 students graduating a nine week Mi-17 helicopter ‘Engine & Body’ class Dec. 20, 2012. Afghan AF instructors partnered with advisors from the Mongolian Air Force to teach students course materials on avionics, engine and aircraft body work. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mekpongsatorn)
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Mi-17 helicopter engine training

Afghan Air Force maintenance instructors and students gather around an Mi-17 engine in a classroom at the Kabul, Afghanistan, International Airport, Nov. 14, 2012, assisted by Mongolian Air Force Mentoring Team Advisor Lt. Enkh-amgalan Sosorbaram (center), on his second deployment to the NATO Air Training mission. The Afghan AF’s newest 16 Mi-17 helicopter technicians crossed a stage Dec. 20, 2012 at the airport, receiving certificates from Afghan AF leaders, Mongolian advisors, and 438th Expeditionary Wing leadership. (Courtesy photo)
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Sling loading in southern Afghanistan

Pathfinder students from 4th Kandak, 2nd Brigade, 205th Corps, prepare equipment to be attached to the bottom of an Afghan Air Force Kandahar Air Wing Mi-17 helicopter during the 4th Lightning Strike Pathfinder Academy, where the students were trained and certified as Pathfinders by Afghan instructors in partnership with Pathfinders of Company F, 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, at Forward Operating Base Wolverine, Afghanistan, Dec. 5th. (Photo by Capt. Richard Barker, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs)
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Talking through it

From left, Lt. Col. Scott Sill, an Afghan hand and senior mentor with Security Forces Assistance Team 11, Maj. Asmatulla Safi, an operations officer with 3rd Zone Afghan Border Police, Lt. Col. Ekland Dauti, commander of Contingent Eagle Five of the Albanian Special Operations Force, conduct a village shura with Afghan Border Police members and villagers of Mawlazay during Operation Southern Strike IV, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Nov. 17, 2012. (U.S. Army Photo/Staff Sgt. Ryan Sheldon)
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