"There I was..."

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Walter Dworak
  • 927th Security Forces Squadron
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla --  It was 2 a.m. and the first words we heard as we exited the passenger terminal were "Welcome to Kabul." So began our six month tour living and working among the Afghan Air Force's (AAF) Kabul Air Wing at Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan.

The security force mission here is unique to say the least. We provide the standard base defense, but due to an attack on U.S. forces on April 27, 2011, where nine advisors lost their lives, our main mission is ensuring the safety of U.S. advisors. The security we provide enables the advisors to continue training AAF outside the wire. Maintaining positive tactical counter insurgency awareness is a full-time requirement whenever we are working beside our AAF counterparts. In occasions when AAF Airmen say something that could be interpreted as a threat, advising duties immediately cease and the threat is evaluated.

In addition, security forces provide protection for fly away missions throughout the theater, but our mission is unique in that we provide security for the crew, not the aircraft. The aircraft are a mixture of both fix winged (C-208 and C-130) and rotary wing (Mi-17). We fly into both large and small AAF bases throughout the country. For example, the first passenger mission for the Afghan C-130 was interesting, flying to four locations returning to Kabul. We departed around 10 a.m. and returned after dark, even though the aircraft and Afghan crew were not certified to fly at night. Through the partnership and oversight of U.S. pilots, we completed the mission. In the course of the trip we picked up 17 wounded and two fallen Afghans. Afghan VIPs joined the U.S. crew in deplaning and paying respect to Afghan fallen heroes. Other typical security force missions with the AAF included flying as gunners on Mi-17s and providing over-watch on C-208 pilot training missions.

With our help, the AAF has made great strides in becoming self-sustained and combat effective. On October 2013, the AAF took delivery of two C-130 aircraft from the U.S. That day was a combination of months of planning and collaboration between the Afghans, NATO and 438th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group. The C-130 celebration was attended by over 250 guests to include four members of Afghanistan's parliament, the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, and more than 20 general officers on the base. A week prior to the event, Afghan media announced the celebration, putting everyone at risk by creating a high-value target that insurgents would know the time and place to engage. During the event, the AAF Security Forces provided the outer ring of security on base while our guys secured the inner ring. The event was a success and ultimately showcased the possibility of future joint US and Afghan operations. Overall, we have found the Afghans are a proud people who are eager to learn and want to take control of their own destiny.