Afghan air force detachment graduates first security forces class

  • Published
  • By Capt. Jamie Humphries
  • 438th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
KABUL, Afghanistan (AFNS) --  Five students at the Afghan air force detachment in Herat graduated from the first security forces Level 3 training course there recently.

Led by coalition advisees, the objective of the training course was to teach students academics and concluded with physical application of techniques learned during the course of four weeks.

Officials said this is the first step in a long road to helping make the Afghan air force detachment from Herat become self-sufficient in their duties of providing security for their installation. Training was also provided by one of the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing's newest coalition partners from El Salvador.

Advisees explained the significance of teaching Afghan air force members how to provide security for their base and airmen.

"This training provides the baseline for the (Afghan air force) security force members to build their base defense," said Tech. Sgt. Gary Hasecuster, who is assigned to the 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group. "Through this training, they have been able to start operating their entry control points correctly and to provide the first layer of defense for their installation. The training also provides them with the knowledge to know how to handle attacks or other insurgency actions at the detachment."

During the classroom academics phase, students learned about techniques such as weapons familiarization and how to safely handle firearms, vehicle operations, search techniques, base defense operations and operating in urban terrain.

In the practical application phase of training, students learned escort techniques such as how to use force, combative skills, rifle-fighting maneuvers and application of the use of deadly force using the use of force continuum.

As with anything being done for the first time, security force advisers said there were certain challenges they worked through to ensure success of the course.

"The biggest limitation that we have is due to the limited manning for (Afghan airmen) to complete their mission," Hasecuster said. "It becomes difficult scheduling additional training and we are limited on the size of the class due to mission requirements. But, this is a great milestone for the (Afghan air force) detachment here at Herat. While they still have a long way to go before they can be 100 percent self-sufficient, this is a great first step for them."