Reserve pilots not reserved when protecting ground troops

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jennifer Lindsey
  • 455th Expeditionary Operations Group Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (AFPN) --  Ammunitions troops here charged with reloading a wingman’s A-10 Thunderbolt II Gatling gun had a busy night recently, following his return.

New Orleans Air Force Reserve pilots proved that they are anything but reserved when it comes to protecting U.S. ground troops in Afghanistan. In defense of a U.S. military convoy, “S-flight 3” fired more than 800 rounds and two laser-guided bombs, destroying a hillside bunker and attacking enemy forces.

Capt. Brian and his wingman, Major Charlie (full names are omitted for security reasons), said they thought they were going to have a quiet night practicing joint tactical air-control until they received a call to provide cover for ground troops. The pilots immediately headed out when they were asked to divert and protect a convoy under attack.

One of the convoy’s combat controllers reported they had been ambushed; after returning fire, the attackers ran into the hills. The controllers needed firepower to provide cover for the convoy so the Soldiers could rescue their injured troops and to prevent the attackers from escaping deeper into the hills. The risk of the enemy regrouping and returning for another attack was too great.

“This is exactly what we practice for,” said Major Charlie, an 81st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron pilot. “When we received the [call], we knew that stuff was going down. You could hear it in the seriousness of his voice.”

With combat controller guidance, the A-10 pilots strafed the hillside with bullets and stuck around to provide the ground troops cover “so the assailants would think twice about hitting [the convoy] again,” he said.

While attack helicopters also provided cover and worked to destroy suspected weapons caches, 81st EFS pilots split their flight and took off to refuel one after the other.

“Fires were burning, so they must have found something,” Major Charlie said. “There was a building they also needed to take out … we strafed it, which did the trick.”

Shortly afterward, the A-10 flight used a laser-guided bomb and destroyed a building from which the ground troops were taking fire.

“The A-10s here bring so much to the fight,” said Staff Sgt. Chris, a combat controller on the convoy. “When [friendly] ground troops hear the low roar coming their way, they know the fight is going to go their way.”

The bombs hit the target straight on, destroying the attackers’ harbor without collateral damage, he said.

The pilots arrived in Afghanistan four days earlier and about two years after their first deployment here. In 2002, the “Cajuns” provided overhead coverage for troops routing out weapons caches. Today, Captain Brian, Major Charlie and about 100 other 706th Fighter Squadron Airmen of Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans have joined forces with 81st Fighter Squadron Airmen from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, who served here in June 2003.

“We did quite a bit of ‘show of presence’ back then, but not like we do now,” the major said. “It’s just incredible being here. Every day, I count my blessings that I’m lucky enough to be in a position to do my part in the global war on terrorism and to prevent another 9-11.”

As Oct. 9 nears, the date of the first presidential elections in Afghanistan, attacks against U.S. military and coalition forces have increased. The 81st EFS “rainbow” flight -- joint active-duty and Reserve units working together as one squadron -- provides aerial cover for the ground troops, whether it is scheduled or called in during a specific situation, such as the convoy ambush.

“You are an integral part of the war on terrorism,” said Army Maj. Gen. Eric T. Olson, the Combined Joint Task Force-76 commander, to Airmen here. “The U.S. Air Force is the cornerstone of the military force today … When you’re speaking of the U.S. Air Force, no one else in the world compares with our combat air power. Thank you for what you’re doing for (the task force), the Afghans and the 280 million Americans back home and for getting it done right.”

The 706th FS Airmen here would not have it any other way, Captain Brian said.

“Every one of us here wanted to be here to be a part of this,” he said. “Some of us even requested longer than the 120 days we were allotted; it means that much to us to be a part of this operation.”