Airmen train Afghan C-27 loadmaster

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Oshawn Jefferson
  • U.S. Air Force Central combat camera team
CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan (AFNS) --  Airmen from the 538th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron and Afghan soldiers with the Afghanistan National Army Air Corps completed a successful check ride for the nation's first qualified C-27 Spartan loadmaster March 28 here.

During an almost two-hour International Security Assistance Force operational mission to deliver more than 2,400 pounds of weapons and supplies for Afghanistan Nation Police at Camp Bastion, ANAAC Master Sgt. Sheer Aqa Karimi, a C-27 loadmaster, was evaluated by Master Sgt. Chris Ringland, a 438th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group standards and evaluation loadmaster.

"I could not be more proud of what we are accomplishing out here," said Senior Master Sgt. Mike Crews, the 538th AEAS superintendent and loadmaster adviser deployed from Hurlburt Field, Fla. "Today's successful mission shows we are making progress and continuing to pave the way toward bringing a professional air force to Afghanistan and keeping its nation and people safe."

"Sheer Aqa is one of the brightest and energetic students we have," said Sergeant Ringland, who is deployed from Hurlburt Field. "He did a great job today and I would be proud to fly with him anywhere in the world."

Admitting he was a bit nervous, Sergeant Karimi said he was pleased at the success of the mission and is happy to be his country's first qualified C-27 loadmaster.

"Today was special because not only did I become my county's first C-27 loadmaster, but also I got to do my check ride on an operational mission," said Sergeant Karimi, who is one of four Afghan loadmasters that will be evaluated before the end of April. "My advisers have been good and I have listened to them and I have been successful."

The loadmaster position, which was introduced to Afghan pilots only three years ago, is in charge of all cargo loading and offloading, cargo restraints, aircraft weight and balance, passenger loading and offloading, passenger safety, the aircraft pre-flight checklist and cross checking all aircraft systems.

During the flight a loadmaster assists the pilots by running checklists and checking engine and hydraulic systems to ensure passengers and cargo arrive at their destination safely. During the check ride Sergeant Karimi was evaluated on how he executed all of the loadmaster duties.

"Sergeant Karimi was excellent today, as he has always been when I have had the pleasure to fly with him," said Lt. Col. Chris Kampsen, the 538th AEAS director of operations and a C-27 instructor pilot, and the aircraft commander on the mission. "It is nice to see the loadmasters have their day to showcase all the hard work they do. Our Air Force loadmaster instructors and Afghan students have been working hard to get our C-27 program operational and get our Afghan C-27 pilots trained. They are an outstanding bunch and Sergeant Karimi is a perfect example of the excellence trained Afghan soldiers can bring to the fight."

Afghan loadmaster students got through six weeks of academics and 50 hours of hands-on training time aboard the C-27 aircraft. After 12 training flights, the Afghan students are evaluated on their proficiency in all of the loadmaster duties on their 13 flights.

"We have a goal to have 10 trained Afghan loadmasters at the end of the year," said Sergeant Crews, a native of Houston. "Our loadmasters and students are very motivated and I know there will be more successful days like today."

Training loadmasters is important as the squadron staff expects to expand the Afghan C-27 fleet to 20 aircraft by the end of the program and expects the delivery of two more C-27s in early April.

"Our Airmen keep making tremendous strides, by setting the conditions for a professional, fully-independent and operationally-capable Afghan air force that meets the security needs for Afghanistan," said Brig. Gen. Michael R. Boera, the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing and Combined Air Power Transition Force commander, who was a pilot on the mission.

"Sergeant Karimi is an example of the pioneering and fighting spirit of Afghanistan and its people," he said. " He is one of the new 'eagles' or new 'oqabs' (eagle in Dari) for Afghanistan. Mission success like this does not come easy, but I know our Airmen and the Afghan Air Corps will continue to build that capability, which will bring greater self-sustaining capability for Afghanistan."

The next class of ANAAC loadmasters is expected to begin in May and end in September.

"The best thing about getting the Afghans qualified is having them available to help train the next group of students," said Sergeant Ringland, a native of Navarre, Fla. "They will be invaluable to the progress of their program, I am very proud of my Afghan brother and look forward to what's next."