Afghan Air Force graduates first weapons safety NCO

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

03.26.2011

Story by Vladimir Potapenko 

438th Air Expeditionary Wing

KABUL, Afghanistan - The Afghan Air Force recently saw an improvement in its safety program with the graduation of the first weapon safety Airman in the entire force.

AAF Sgt. Yosufzai Hamayattullah completed the two-month basic explosives hazards course on the AAF Base in Kabul, establishing with him the foundation of a weapons safety program that Afghan officials would like to see grow.

The course provided Sgt. Hamayattullah with the very basics of what explosives are, how they are categorized and how they are used in modern weapons. In addition, he learned to identify specific hazards for each type of munitions and determine their categorization on sight.

“I am proud of myself for being the only person in the Afghan Air Force to know about weapons safety,” said Hamayattullah. “This is an opportunity for me to go out and show fellow airmen the dangers and precautions surrounding explosive ordinance.”

“I can better serve my country with this information,” he added.

“Hamayattullah is an essential brick in the foundation of a weapons safety program in Afghanistan; all other mishap-prevention programs and training efforts will be based off Hamayattullah’s capabilities and tailored to meet his needs in improving safety in the AAF,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Rocky Phillips, a weapons safety advisor with NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan, commenting on the future role he envisions for Hamayattullah.

“It took a lot of effort to find a qualified individual to become the first AAF explosive safety noncommissioned officer and I am overjoyed that Hamayattullah has more than surpassed all of my expectations. He is a quick learner and has an excellent attitude; Afghanistan needs many more NCOs like Hamayattullah to build a functioning Air Force. He will be a pivotal factor in the AAF for years to come,” said Sgt. Phillips, a Roseburg, Oregon native.

Though a marked success in the development of the AAF weapons safety program and safety program in general, Phillips believes that the arrival of one weapons safety NCO is not enough for the developing AAF.

“The explosives hazards course is just an initial step to building the necessary skills for personnel involved in weapons safety as well as others who work with explosives on a daily basis. I hope that this course can one day be taught to all AAF personnel who are responsible for ensuring explosives are handled, stored, and transported safely. Our intent is for Hamayattullah to become the first teacher of this program once he is fully qualified,” he said.

“Currently, the lack of weapons safety prevention has left Afghanistan vulnerable. There is a large quantity of explosives of every type and condition stockpiled across the country, many in Afghan National Army bases and elsewhere, which pose a serious threat to those who live or work nearby. Without a fully operational weapons safety program, a catastrophic explosive mishap may occur and many lives and valuable resources lost,” he continued.

Not just a matter of furthering the AAF’s capabilities, Hamayattullah’s role as weapons safety NCO is a point of personal pride for Phillips.

“Hamy graduating this course means a lot to me because it was the one thing, of the many things I have done during my time here, that I have had the opportunity to see come to fruition. Most of the things I have accomplished, either done right or not, will not be observable for several years down the road. It is nice to have this one thing to give me a sense of accomplishment.”

• Date Taken: 03.26.2011
• Date Posted: 03.26.2011 07:28
• Story ID: 67776
• Location: KABUL, AF