Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team

Story by Tech. Sgt. Brian Boisvert

NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The 16th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force visited the Air Force-led Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team Nov. 28 to see how Airmen are contributing to the Afghanistan's security, development and governance.

CMSAF James Roy visited Forward Operating Base Finley-Shields in Jalalabad as part of a battlefield circulation to see Airmen at deployed locations. Roy is the first CMSAF to visit a PRT in Afghanistan and he was able to see the work

Roy told the PRT, which is made up of Air Force and Army people, that a joint organization like theirs is at the forefront of the war effort.

"We are a nation at war...not an Air Force or an Army, but a nation. We will do whatever our nation requires us to do and we will step up to the challenges," Roy said.

The chief's visit included a tour to PRT projects in Jalalabad. With a background in civil engineering, he grasped the importance of training and mentoring Afghans on the proper way to build projects.

Roy travelled with the PRT engineers on quality assurance and compliance checks to a local justice complex that is 75 percent complete. He then went to the Saracha Bridge, which was destroyed by natural causes, and saw the bridge assessed as 15 percent complete. Both projects are part of the coalition efforts to help Afghans rebuild their country after more than 30 years of war and destruction.

The chief was able to see how the construction by local people and mentored by Air Force engineers help to build a stronger country and tighter relationship bond between the U.S. and Afghanistan.

After a tour outside the wire, Roy returned to the FOB and spent time meeting with Airmen in their work centers and talking with Airmen and Soldiers about working side by side on a unique mission. He also solicited suggestions for improvements that he could take back to the Air Staff.

The chief's biggest concern was asking Airmen how to improve pre-mobilization training and combat skills training.

"I am looking at combat skills training. I want to assure you that somebody is looking at the training (to make it better)," Roy said during a luncheon with more than 50 Airmen. The chief addressed everything from line remarks to Airmen being qualified on crew-served weapons to improve Airmen readiness.

"Our challenge is making sure we have the right Airmen doing the right thing," he said.
Roy also addressed the deployment cycle, the new physical fitness test, supervision, professional military education and deliberate development of Airmen. He stated that the Air Force he grew up in is vastly different than what today's service.

"You and your peers have something I never had...combat. I grew up in the Cold War, it's not the same anymore," Roy said. "Fast forward 15 to 20 years from now when and think about how that changes your Airmen and their development when they're a chief master sergeant. "

Roy said his biggest message was to thank Airmen for their service.

"Our business is important to the security of the nation. Thank you for what you do and the sacrifices you make every day," he said.

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