Can Afghans account for their aircraft?
The Afghan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC) is growing and increasing Afghan capabilities to defend their own country.
Many of these capabilities, such as airplanes and helicopters are donated by coalition forces. As such, an important part of this process is maintaining accountability and ensuring these assets are used for their specific purpose.
The NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan, Combined Security Transition – Command’s End Use Monitoring team is responsible for this accountability, as evidenced by their visit to Kabul International Airport.
“It is a good idea to know where assets are and how they are being used, making sure they are being used for their intended purposes,” said Maj. Joe Giuliani, the rotary-wing maintenance squadron commander’s advisor.
Some of ANAAC’s aircraft include Mi-17 general purpose and Mi-35 gunship helicopters. Others include L-39 close air support airplanes and C-27 cargo airplanes which are replacing Afghan’s AN-32 and AN-36 cargo airplanes. As the number of these aircraft increases so will the EUM team’s responsibilities for accounting for them.
“We look at all different articles NATO has provided to Afghanistan,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Jake Elsass, EUM’s vehicles and aircraft registration officer-in-charge. “This is one of the few places we can go and see all the aircraft.”
The team’s mission began in February 2009, tracking weapons, ammunition, communication devices and night vision devices specifically for ANA commandos. Since then the team’s scope has increased to include aircraft and vehicles.
“As a taxpayer we need to communicate to them how their (American) tax dollars are being spent to support our national security strategy,” said Capt. Bill Ott, the C-27 quality assurance evaluator.
By Capt. Tamara Gonzales - NATO Training Mission - Afghanistan (www.ntm-a.com)
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