Afghan air force members attend fly-away security team training

  • Published
  • By Capt. Rob Leese
  • 438th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
KABUL, Afghanistan (AFNS) --  Nine Afghan air force security forces members received flyaway security team training here from Sept. 27 through Oct. 4. They are assigned to the quick reaction force and have received previous basic military police and air base defense training.

The training provides the Afghan air force an added capability of having trained AAF security members who are solely focused on aircraft and crew security during high-threat missions, when requested by an aircraft commander and if missions dictate.

"They were pushed physically and mentally through hands on learning, and I placed a lot of emphasis on working as a team," said Capt. Robert Shaw, the NATO Air Training Command - Afghanistan security forces adviser and team lead. "I was impressed at how motivated they were and how quickly they learned and gelled."

Their two primary responsibilities include providing security while the aircraft is on the ground and to provide security during reconnaissance flights in support of national events.

The security members completed 75 hours of physical fitness, aircraft orientation and familiarization, practical evaluations, security scenarios, and a fixed and rotary wing mission for each fly-away security team.

The training helps strengthen the Afghan air force by providing a necessary, short-notice capability in support of combat missions nation wide and helps control personnel who are trying to gain unauthorized access to the aircraft, Captain Shaw said. Further, their flexibility, allows them to support short-duration missions and longer-term, overnight missions as well.

Security force members will continue working in the quick reaction force here to support the rotary and fixed wing missions when called upon.

"My hope is that they will be called on in the near future to support the Afghan air forces flying missions and continue to be a reliable asset to the Afghan air force for years to come," Captain Shaw said.