BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Coalition maintainers at the Train, Advise, Assist Command – Air (TAAC-Air) in Kabul provide hands-on training to Afghan Air Force personnel in repairing and operating the Afghan C-130H Hercules aircraft.
The TAAC-Air team holds classes periodically with their AAF counterparts to improve maintenance skills to get the Afghan military fully trained to be a capable, sustainable and professional air force.
“Some of the things we go over with the Afghans are basic aircraft maintenance for the C-130,” said Staff Sgt. John Revell, Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron C-130 maintainer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. “We’ll do engine inspections and motor changes, stuff like that. We teach them as much as we can, from crew chief jobs to metals. Whatever they are willing to learn, we teach.”
The Airmen show the Afghan students step-by-step how to do specific tasks in and outside of the aircraft. With the students showing high interest and motivation to learn, the team has found it easy and fun to work with the AAF Airmen.
“They are extremely eager to learn about their aircraft,” said Master Sgt. William Mayfield, 440th AEAS C-130 aircraft electrician supervisor from Prattville, Alabama. “They all work at a different pace so we work with them in small teams [to] get them the training they need. We always encourage the students to ask questions if they are stuck in a topic.”
Mayfield said their goal is to teach them at a pace they will learn and understand so they can do it on their own when the time comes.
The Afghan Airmen currently depend on Coalition maintainers and advisors to provide them in-depth training so they will be able to maintain and sustain their own maintenance so they can lead and run their own air force.
“If we don’t teach them, they aren’t going to learn. So, our role here is extremely important. We’re helping build up their Air Force so they can be independent; it’s an amazing feeling to be able to be a part of this,” Mayfield said. “Basically we are creating a professional Air Force that is capable of doing its own maintenance.”