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SHINDAND, Afghanistan - One by one, Afghan air force airmen were called to receive their graduation certificates. With shouts of “I serve for Afghanistan,” they punctuated their two months as the initial Crew Resource Management Course students with a verbal declaration of their efforts and success.
In all, two aircraft commanders, three flight engineers and four flying crew chiefs took a large step forward in their careers and development of the AAF at the Shindand Training Center, April 6, by graduating in the first-ever CRM course.
Training together in the first Mi-17 helicopter CRM Course in Shindand, the airmen each achieved their individual goals, all the while working towards broadening the interoperability of Afghan aircraft personnel and promoting the “full-crew concept” of aviation, where each aviator is critical piece to mission accomplishment, something that Afghan and coalition officials hope is something more than just a novelty.
“Just thinking back to the first time I talked to them, it is amazing the progress they have made,” said US. Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher Morford, an aerial gunner advisor with NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan and an instructor with the CRM Course, commenting on the great strides the flying crew chiefs made during the training.
Morford, a West Des Moines, Iowa native, sees the student’s transformation as not only a scholastic improvement, but key progress in their path towards competent and invested leadership.
“Two of my flying crew chiefs got their final check rides before the other students in the class, but instead of being satisfied with themselves, they took their time to come in and help the remaining two students who had not gotten their certification yet,” said Morford.
“They even sacrificed their Friday, their one day off a week, to help the others become more comfortable with the material. We came out of the office and saw Sgt. Qudratullah giving the other guys scenarios you could face in the air. It was just awesome to see,” he added.
With their graduation on the 6th, the four flying crew chiefs became the first students to go through formal crew-chief training in Shindand.
A catalyst for many firsts, the CRM Course also set the stage for the first fully-Afghan manned check ride. Two days before graduation, the final pilot to be certified as an aircraft commander flew an all Afghan crew –an Afghan instructor pilot, flight engineers and flying crew chiefs—as a demonstration of his proficiency and command of the Mi-17, the centerpiece of the AAF’s rotary force.
Following the flight, U.S. Air Force Capt. Sean T. Masters, a NATC-A Mi-17 pilot advisor who flew in an accompanying Mi-17 as part of the mission, said the pilots graduating the CRM Course are the future of the AAF.
“These guys are the baseline for what pilots are supposed to be like in this air force … and it is promising,” he added.
Not only a proud moment for the students and instructors associated with the historic check flight, Afghan officials see the event as a symbol for Afghanistan of their air force’s independent future.
“It is very important for the Afghan people to see that the Afghan air force and Afghan National Army can execute their duties independently,” said AAF Col. Mohammad Rahim Azimi, the instructor pilot on the All-Afghan check ride and Shindand Mi-17 squadron commander. “This shows that we are capable of just that.”
Masters, originally from Topeka, Kan., believes the Shindand Training Center’s curriculum and method of promoting professional Airmen is a cornerstone for future efforts by both AAF and coalition forces.
“This is the key for the Afghan air force,” he said. “Dedicated training helps to improve the capability of the troops,” adding that though it may take time, he is optimistic about Afghanistan’s future.
Part of that future hangs on whether Afghanistan is able to keep resupplying new instructors to teach the fresh airmen that travel to the various AAF bases in Kabul, Kandahar and Shindand, says Morford.
“Eventually, it will be Afghans teaching Afghans with no coalition there for oversight. And just by looking at the guys we have graduating this course, I can tell that will not be a problem,” he said.
Sgt. Qudratullah, a CRM graduate and freshly qualified flying crew chief, is one such candidate for a future instructing position. Due to his motivation and ability, Morford sees Qudratullah as exemplifying the best of what the new AAF provides to its country.
“I want to serve my country,” said Qudratullah. “I want to serve it by showing other airmen what needs to be done. I want to be an instructor for Afghanistan.”
Though not yet qualified as an instructor, Morford envisions Qudratullah and other CRM graduates serving as an example of professionalism and Airmanship, helping to promote Shindand Training Center as it works in becoming the center of aviation training.
“People will be looking at them [the graduates]. They will go to their operational squadron in Kabul, in Kandahar and not only their advisors, but other Afghans will see how they perform, their pride and become interested in the same type of training. Word of mouth will spread for Shindand and this is not only good for the base, but the AAF as well,” said Morford, going on to say that STC can provide a platform for standardization when it comes to aviation training.
With all of the promise invested in them, the AAF airmen accepted their certificates. Proud of their achievements, though not complacent with them, the nine men set themselves to serve for the benefit of their country as well as any men that came before them.
| Date Taken: | 04.07.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 04.07.2011 12:04 |
| Story ID: | 68408 |
| Location: | SHINDAND, AF |
| Web Views: | 138 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, AAF Members make history with first-ever Crew Resource Management Graduation, by PO1 Vladimir Potapenko, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
