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Afghan military officers visit Bagram Airfield

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kevin Tomko
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  Eight Afghan army air corps officers visited the 455th Expeditionary Mission Support Group Feb. 20. The group consisted of mission support officers who came to exchange ideas with their Air Force counterparts. 

"They learned a lot," said Capt. Tommy Butler, who is an Air Corps Advisory Group mentor. "The Afghans don't have a complete infrastructure yet. They came to see what a full operation looks like." 

"They also came to see our organizational structure," said Col. Terri Chaney, the 455th EMSG commander. "It is actually a mentoring program for the Afghan officers. Their organization has a structure similar to ours with only slight differences." 

Squadron commanders from the 455th EMSG accompanied their Afghan counterparts throughout the seven-hour visit. The Afghan officers were briefed on the Air Force organizational structure and were provided an overview of the Joint Logistics Center. 

Lt. Col. Steven Johnson, the 455th Expeditionary Mission Support Squadron commander, said this was the first time he got a chance to speak to Afghans since he arrived at Bagram. 

The group toured such departments as services, security forces, personnel, supply, vehicle operations, civil engineering, aerial port and communications. At each location the Afghans were shown how that organization worked. 

One of the main differences the Afghans noticed is chain-of-command duties. The Afghan officers said they handle even the smallest tasks themselves rather than delegating them to the lower ranks. Also, in their units it is common for visitors to walk right in to speak with a commanding officer without speaking to an executive officer or NCO first. 

"The thing that impressed the Afghans the most was the duties of our non-commissioned officers," said Colonel Johnson. "They were surprised at how much responsibility we gave our NCOs." 

Captain Butler said the Army is setting up mentoring programs such as this all over Afghanistan. 

"I think this was a ground breaking event," said Maj. Corey Ramsby, the 54th Expeditionary Combat Communications Squadron commander. "It's quite humbling to see the beginnings of a new country's air force. My counterpart was impressed with what we have here, but I think he had mixed emotions because he was in Bagram in 1999. This was actually his base at one time, and now we're here." 

The Air Force squadron commanders were impressed at the Afghans' dedication and how hard they were trying to make their air corps work. 

"We will continue to support the Afghan army air corps," said Colonel Chaney. "Next time, we will go to their base in Kabul and exchange more ideas."