Inaugural Afghan crew chief class graduates from academy

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

03.04.2010

Story by Spc. Monica K. Guthrie 

Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan— Five Afghan aircraft maintainers had smiles on their faces as they waited to shake their general's hand; they were the first class to graduate from the Afghan National Security Forces Crew Chief Academy, March 4.

It was history in the making as this was the inaugural class of the Afghan National Security Forces Crew Chief Academy.

One by one, as each of the graduates was called and after shaking the hands with multiple military leaders, both Afghan and American Soldiers sounded off, "I will serve Afghanistan." They then took their seats, no longer amateur soldiers but trained crew chiefs.

"Three weeks ago, we gathered to launch the first-ever Afghan National Army Crew Chief Academy," said U.S. Army Col. Don Galli, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, Task Force Falcon commander. "Today, we celebrate its success in bringing our nations and Soldiers together as a team. During this short period of time, we have forged the beginning of what I hope will be an enduring relationship with the Afghan National Army Air Corps."

The graduating crew chiefs were all previously solely maintenance workers, some of them serving for more than 15 years in maintenance. For Mohammed Yousaf Wafa, one of the ANA crew chiefs, the graduation ceremony was the culmination of years of hard work and an accomplishment..

"I'm really excited and happy to complete and pass the three weeks of the crew chief academy," said Wafa. "It was a great opportunity because we are the first to go through the academy. There is a lot of responsibility for crew chiefs and we learned those responsibilities, which will help us serve our country- Afghanistan."

The graduation ceremony also included speeches from Brig. Gen. Mohammed Barat, the wing commander of the ANAAC and focused on the hope of executing joint missions in the future.

"I am pleased and honored that our crew chiefs are able to train here," said Barat. "I am thankful for Galli's efforts to help with the execution of this program. It has provided training for our aircrews which is important, so we can conduct future air missions with U.S. aviation units."

Following the ceremony, both the ANAAC and the U.S. Soldiers shared an Afghan-American lunch while viewing a slide show that highlighted images taken throughout the three-week academy. Some of the ANAAC crew chiefs laughed when they saw photos of their first flight in a Black Hawk.

"That whole day they kept asking us, 'why do we have to be here at 5 a.m., if we don't fly till 7 a.m.?'," said U.S. Army Sgt. Matthew West, Company A, Task Force Knighthawk, 3rd CAB, TF Falcon, and one of the instructors of the course. "We had to show them that their job was more intensive than just riding in the back."

The course included both classroom instruction and flying, pre-flight and post-flight inspections of an aircraft, how to communicate with one another during flight and how to secure cargo and passengers.

"When we put them in a crew chief's seat and watched them make all the calls, to each other, it showed they knew and understood what we were trying to teach them in the classroom," said West.

The graduation ceremony also recognized West and fellow instructor, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. James Parker, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, TF Brawler, 3rd CAB, TF Falcon, for their hard work in the academy.

"Parker and West are two of our best crew chiefs," said Galli. "They conducted the day-to-day training and worked directly with the Afghan crew chiefs. They did so professionally and exceeded our expectations."

The academy is one of two academies within the TF Falcon Combined Action Program, the other is the ANSF Air Assault Academy. After graduating the Crew Chief Academy, the ANAAC crew chiefs will immediately begin air assault training with the opening day scheduled at Bagram Airfield, March 6. The Air Assault Academy will not only include ANAAC soldiers but also ANA commandos.

"The big picture is that we are bringing together soldiers from two nations and giving our Soldiers and their Afghan counterparts the skills needed to conduct combined-action missions," said Galli. "Three weeks ago, when we launched the crew chief academy, I said that if we continue to work together, we will be a team that is ready to face any foe, defeat any enemy and accomplish any mission. After witnessing first-hand our Soldiers and our nations working together, I am confident that we will achieve that goal."

• Date Taken: 03.04.2010
• Date Posted: 03.04.2010 07:20
• Story ID: 46136
• Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF