Task Force Corsair assists from above

Courtesy Photo | Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jason Kempfer, of the 1st Battalion, 82nd Aviation Regiment, deployed from Fort Bragg, N.C., conducts a pre-flight aircraft inspection at Kandahar Airfield in this recent photo. The Soldiers of Task Force Corsair execute continual maintenance to ensure aircraft operate safely. (U.S. Army photo/released).  

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AFGHANISTAN

03.28.2015

Story by Capt. Matthew McMillan 

Resolute Support Headquarters

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – The NATO Resolute Support Mission allows U.S. Soldiers and coalition partners to work with Afghan forces on a daily basis. While other entities are dedicated to training and advising the Afghan Air Force, Task Force Corsair, a multifunctional aviation task force, aids Afghan forces by providing full-spectrum aviation support.

Task Force Corsair is comprised of Soldiers from the 82nd Aviation Regiment, deployed from Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The task force operates under the leadership of NATO Train, Advise, Assist Command – South (TAAC-S), which is responsible for operations in the southern regions of Afghanistan. TAAC-S is led by the 1st Cavalry Division, deployed from Fort Hood, Texas, and includes service members from multiple commands, including the 101st Airborne Division, deployed from Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

With Afghan forces leading the way in operations, the service members of Corsair assist in execution of air assault operations. The Soldiers of Company C, 3rd Battalion, 82nd Aviation Regiment, provide transportation to objective areas utilizing CH-47F Chinook helicopters. They land in treacherous terrain and overcome the challenging atmospheric conditions of Afghanistan. As part of their duties, they also support ground forces by conducting resupply missions.

The service members of Company A, 1st Battalion, 82nd Aviation Regiment, include the AH-64D Apache helicopter pilots who fly every day to eliminate potential attacks on Kandahar Airfield.

“We provide a sense of security for ground forces; it is comforting for them knowing that they have the most lethal asset on the battlefield overhead,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephen Murray, an Apache pilot in Company A and a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina.

The service members of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 82nd Aviation Regiment, assist by moving personnel and equipment across the battlefield in UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to conduct operations or meetings with Afghan forces, U.S. forces and Afghan civilians.

“The majority of our [movements] require us to transport [leaders] ... in order to conduct key leader engagements to discuss [Afghan] future operations and how we can better assist them,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Juan Serna, a UH-60M pilot in Company C, of El Paso, Texas.

TAAC-S is headquartered at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.

• Date Taken: 03.28.2015
• Date Posted: 03.28.2015 10:31
• Story ID: 158460
• Location: KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF