Lt. Gen. Mark Shackelford tours Afghan Air Force English immersion lab

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

01.15.2011

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jared Walker 

438th Air Expeditionary Wing

KABUL, Afghanistan - Lt. Gen. Mark Shackelford, the military deputy of the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, toured the Afghan Air Force English immersion lab known as the “Thunder Lab” at Kabul, Afghanistan Jan. 15.

Gen. Shackelford toured the Thunder Lab's living areas, classrooms, viewed training on flight simulators and watched the Afghan Air Force lieutenants participate in leadership classes.

“Today, we were showing the leadership some of the process and programs here at the Thunder Lab, especially the flight room simulator. I told the general that it provides the Afghan Force lieutenants an opportunity to put what they have learned in my class into action. They have learned procedures and aviation fundamentals which they will be able to put into action,” said Maj. Patrick Stovall, Thunder Lab flight simulator instructor.

“The process being made with the course here and the results are outstanding. It’s just great work,” said Gen. Shackelford.

Members of the Afghan Air Force that live and go the school at the Thunder Lab were pleased to have Gen. Shackelford visit.

“I enjoyed the general’s visit today because he saw our classrooms and living places. He saw how we live and how things are run. I think that the general’s visit will help us improve things here,” said Lt. Mohammadyar, an Afghan Air Force lieutenant student at the Thunder Lab.

Shackelford said that he this was his first visit to Afghanistan. While his trip had to do mostly with constituency contracting he said that he wanted to take the opportunity to come to the Thunder Lab as a side trip and see the training held here.

“When I return to the states, I will have favorable things to say about the training done here. I have more homework to do in the contracting area to help it become even better,” said Shackelford.

• Date Taken: 01.15.2011
• Date Posted: 01.16.2011 06:56
• Story ID: 63633
• Location: KABUL, AF