Airmen build future Afghan pilot training base Published Dec. 11, 2009 By Roger Drinnon Air Mobility Command Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFNS) -- Airmen restored an airfield that will eventually become the home of the Afghan National Army Air Corps undergraduate pilot training in Shindand, Afghanistan. Airmen deployed from the 615th Contingency Response Wing at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., worked side-by-side with Afghan and coalition forces as they turned rubble into a functional runway. In August, 615th CRW Airmen deployed to assess an old airfield in Shindand to find out what was needed to make it fully operational at the request of the Combined Air Operations Center's director of mobility forces. Travis AFB 572nd Contingency Response Group's advanced team members arrived at Shindand within four days of the request. The remaining members of the team arrived within two weeks. At the time of the Airmen's arrival, very few aircraft could land at or take off from the rundown airfield. The Airmen's initial task was to determine the requirements needed to enable it to accommodate a constant flow of Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft along with Afghan and coalition airlift aircraft expected to transit the base as a result of the recent increase in airlift operations supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Assessment team members found the airfield, originally a Soviet fighter base built in 1961, in great disrepair from age and neglect. The Airmen found the airfield heaped with debris and scrap metal, and several buildings such as the control tower that required restoration. The 572nd CRG's director of operations who led the assessment said he felt a strong sense of impact and contribution for this mission. "Our reports were able to provide early guidance to higher headquarters on how to continue coalition operations safely, while also providing input for a long-term solution to sustain air operations (at Shindand)," said Maj. Marshall Preston. "The airfield will have a long-lasting, positive impact on both coalition and Afghan forces." In locations like Shindand where little military infrastructure exists, contingency response team specialists work to build up, improve and later expand the air mobility logistics system infrastructure and operating capacity. Contingency response team members provide initial, essential capabilities like command and control of logistics, communications, force protection, cargo and passenger and aerial port operations, airfield operations, flying operations, aircraft maintenance, and force accountability. Team members also can expand an existing air base's infrastructure to provide airlift, aerospace ground equipment support, supply and other services necessary to project airpower and support ground operations. After the assessment at Shindand, Airmen worked with Afghan National Army Air Corps and Italian coalition members to establish initial operations at the airfield within two month's time. They quickly restored an abandoned air traffic control tower, repaved the heavily-damaged airstrip, and installed airfield lighting. Four large craters were found on the runway and were filled by Afghan contractors working with contingency response team members shortly after their arrival. Airmen also repaired plumbing and rewired several buildings, including some medical facilities. Repair to essential operations were completed by contingency response team and coalition members in October. Afterward, a Combined Air Power Transition Force team will build more airfield support infrastructure and facilities. The CAPTF in turn transitions responsibility for further development of the base to a coalition Master Planning Team. The Master Planning Team will build further upon the infrastructure, facilities and mobility system built up by both the 572nd CRG and the CAPTF and will establish the base as an ANAAC undergraduate pilot training base for the Afghans within the next two years.