Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz talks to members of the Afghan air force during a visit to the English immersion lab known as "Thunder Lab" Jan.18, 2011, in Kabul, Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Rob Leese)
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz talks to members of the Afghan Air Force during a visit to the English immersion lab known as "Thunder Lab" Jan.18, 2011, in Kabul, Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Rob Leese)
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz observes Afghan air force Lt. Jamshid Baryalai demonstrate a simulated flight during his visit to the English immersion lab known as "Thunder Lab" Jan.18, 2011, in Kabul, Afghanistan. (U.S. Navy photo/Petty Officer 3rd Class Jared E. Walker)
by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jared Walker
NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan Public Affairs
1/20/2011 - KABUL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz spent time with members of the Afghan air force and NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan members during his visit here Jan. 18.
General Schwartz visited the Thunder Lab, an innovative English immersion project located on the base, where he was briefed by Brig. Gen. David Allvin, the commander of the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing/NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan.
General Allvin described the partnering efforts of coalition countries helping to build the capability of the Afghan air force, as well as accomplishments of American Airmen in Afghanistan.
"When I took over this command in September, there were only four additional partner countries," General Allvin said. "Since then, five additional countries have joined, and by this summer, there will be 16 partner nations from within and outside of NATO...helping to build the Afghan air force."
With the addition of partner countries comes years of experience on the current aircraft used by the Afghan air force, General Allvin said.
General Schwartz toured the living areas, classrooms and flight simulators of the Thunder Lab, and had an opportunity to watch the Afghan air force lieutenants participating in a teambuilding and leadership exercise.
"It is clear from the faces of the young Afghans that I saw today that our people here are doing a wonderful job," General Schwartz said.
Providing some heartfelt motivation, General Schwartz told the Afghan lieutenants that their goal should be to make their fellow Afghan citizens proud of their air force.
"This is what it's all about," General Schwartz said. "It is just like how we work to make people back home in the United States proud of our Air Force."
The general said he was impressed by the contributions to the mission by the coalition advisors at the Thunder Lab.
"I'm inspired by what is going on here," General Schwartz said. "Clearly, they are reaching the young Afghans who aspire to be professional airmen and who will serve their country well."
