LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - When the ISAF combat mission ends at the end of the year, the Afghan National Army will still have an enemy remaining in Afghanistan to contend with.
One of the ways the ANA is increasing their capacity to defend the nation is to train Afghan Tactical Air Coordinator's. Eight students were the first to learn live vectoring and talk-on training using Afghan Air Force helicopters on Fob Gamberi, Laghman province, Sept. 21, 2014.
"This training offers a great advantage over the insurgency because the insurgents do not have airpower," according to U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Kurt D. Brill, of Churchville, Va. "(Afghan forces) have the capability to strike in great force whenever and can be a great advantage in battle."
Brill, the main instructor for the course, serves as a brigade air liaison officer. He is assigned to 19th Air Support Operations Squadron at Fort Campbell, Ky. and is deployed in support of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division.
"They got to sit down with the pilots and have an open forum with them," said Brill. "The (pilots) discussed the aircraft capabilities and general characteristics of what they expect from a ground observer.".
The main program of instruction included classes on special equipment required by an ATAC, map and communications skills, aircraft capabilities, surface-to-air threats for the aircraft, many different considerations that can affect the ability to use of air support, and air-weapons requests,,close air attack procedures.
According to ANA Capt. Waisuddin, one of the trained ATACS, said he learned how to use the map, how to give coordinates to the pilots (friendly forces), same thing with the enemy targets.
A day after training, the students gathered for a graduation ceremony and received certificates certifying them as ATACS.
"These gentlemen offer a new combat capability to defeat the insurgents," said Brill of the students.
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