Task Force Falcon kicks off ANAAC crew chief training academy

AFGHANISTAN

02.13.2010

Story by Spc. Monica K. Guthrie 

Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan— After more than a month in planning, leaders from the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, Task Force Falcon, and Afghan national army air corps, gathered to celebrate the opening of the Afghan national security forces crew chief Academy, Feb. 13, at the Marne Cafe.

"The goal is for us to transition the security of their country to them," said Chief Warrant Officer Chris Hinkle, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, TF Falcon, training leader for the Marne Combined Action Program. "We're increasing their tactical proficiency and enabling future partnerships between the Afghans and the U.S."

The opening ceremony included speeches from the 3rd CAB, TF Falcon commander, U.S. Army Col. Don Galli, and Brig. Gen. Mohammed Barat, the wing commander of the ANAAC. Following the ceremony both the ANAAC and the U.S. Soldiers shared an Afghan-American lunch before the crew chiefs departed to begin their classes.

"It is our pleasure and honor to be here," said Barat. "It is good to meet all of you and we are glad to be here today. I hope [the ANAAC crew chiefs] can learn as much as they can while they are here."

The inaugural class of five ANAAC crew chiefs will progress through the two-week academy which includes both classroom instruction and flying. Crew chiefs from TF Falcon will instruct the class which will include lessons such as fuel management, preparing an aircraft and multiple aircraft operations.

"We want to foster an environment that is conducive to learning," said U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Robert McGraw, HHC, TF Falcon, and academy sergeant major. "We brought in crew chiefs we thought would best be able to explain the information and are also keeping in mind that some blocks of instruction may be more difficult for them to understand. This is a learning experience for the both of us and when we're done with this first class, they will be able to tell us how we can improve to better teach the next class."

The academy is one of two academies within the Task Force Falcon Combined Action Program, the other being the ANSF Air Assault Academy. The plan originally only included air assault training as TF Falcon sought to find a way to partner with the ANA. After hearing of the ANAAC learning to fly from the Air Force in Kia, Afghanistan, leaders in TF Falcon wanted to ensure the pilots of the ANAAC not only knew how to fly aircraft but how to do so tactically. Thus the ANSF Air Assault Academy; a training program designed to teach pilots, crews and ground units to conduct tactical operations; was born.

"As plans for the Air Assault Academy began to develop, a need was identified to train the crew chiefs," said Hinkle. "As a [combat aviation brigade] we have the skills to train crew chiefs and so we created the Crew Chief Academy."

After graduating the Crew Chief Academy, the ANAAC crew chiefs will immediately begin air assault training with the opening day scheduled for March 6 at Bagram Airfield. The Air Assault Academy will not only include ANAAC soldiers but also ANA commandos.

"Everyone is excited about this partnering," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. William Cristy, deputy commander of TF Falcon. "It's our job to make this a success and at the end of the day we'll know our success by what the ANAAC crew chiefs learn."

• Date Taken: 02.13.2010
• Date Posted: 02.15.2010 04:57
• Story ID: 45363
• Location: AF