Afghan air force conducts air assault with Afghan special ops

  • Published
  • By Capt. Anastasia Burgess
  • 438th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AFNS) --  The Afghan air force's 379th Rotary Wing Squadron, which is advised by NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan, coordinated its first air assault mission with the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command Feb. 20.

During the operation, 60 special operations commandos were inserted into a location plagued by insurgent activity. The mission, conducted in Kandahar Province, was led, planned and executed by the Afghan military.

"Air assault is one of many complex skills that the Kandahar Air Wing offers and is very important to the Afghan military," said Col. Attaullah, the 379th RWS commander and flight lead for the air assault mission. "These types of missions greatly support the Afghan National Army. Inserting forces at an exact time surprises the enemy and denies their opportunity to respond."

For their American advisers, the mission helped gauge the Afghans' progress in training.

"It's missions like this that really put the Afghans' training to the test," said Capt. Jeremy Powell, a pilot adviser with the 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron. "As an adviser, there's no better way to assess the KAW's progression than the real-world stressors of an air assault operation."

The operation showcased the growing capability of the Afghan military to cooperate in joint missions.

"These types of missions include hours of planning and coordination between ground and air forces," Powell said. "Air assault operations require Afghan aircrews to consider every aspect of the mission and execute with precision."

The operation was yet another milestone for the AAF as the service continues to become a sustainable air force. It was also a significant achievement in the combined strategic flightplan for the AAF readiness in 2013.

"Conducting complex operations with the different components of the Afghan military ensures future sustainability and interoperability," Powell said.