Afghan air force fly away security team training Published Oct. 8, 2010 By Capt. Rob Leese 438th AEW PAO KABUL, Afghanistan -- Nine Afghan air force security Kandak members received eight days of fly away security team training at the AAF base in Kabul culminating in their Oct. 4 graduation. They're assigned to the quick reaction force and have received previous basic military police and air base defense training. This training provides the Afghan air force an added capability of having trained AAF security members that are solely focused on security of their air force's aircraft and its crew during high threat missions, when requested by the aircraft commander and as the mission dictates. Their two primary responsibilities include providing security while the aircraft is on the ground and providing security during reconnaissance flights in support of national events such as the Kabul Conference, Peace Consultative Talks, elections and much more. Three teams comprised of an NCO and two soldiers completed 75 hours of physical fitness; combined classroom, aircraft orientation and familiarization; practical evaluations; security scenarios and a fixed rotary wing mission for each fly away security team. Capt. Robert Shaw, NATO Air Training Command - Afghanistan Security Forces advisor and team lead, explained, "They were pushed physically and mentally through hands-on learning and I placed a lot of emphasis on working as a team. I was impressed at how motivated they were and how quickly they learned and gelled. It was an awesome effort!" This training helps strengthen the AAF by providing a necessary, short-notice capability in support of combat missions nation-wide and helps control personnel who are trying to gain unauthorized access to the aircraft. Further, their flexibility allows them to support short duration missions and longer-term overnight missions as well. Security force members will continue working in the QRF Company here at Kabul and supporting the rotary and fixed wing missions when called upon. "My hope is that they will be called on in the near future to support the Afghan Air Forces flying missions and continue to be a reliable asset to the Afghan Air Force for years to come," Captain Shaw said. Captain Shaw is deployed from the 19th Security Forces Squadron.