bobdina
08-12-2009, 02:22 PM
U.S. general: Afghan airmen prep to fight
By Lara Jakes - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Aug 12, 2009 13:14:27 EDT
WASHINGTON — After years of recruiting and training, Afghan airmen are getting ready to fight.
Now equipped with Russian-made attack helicopters — a relic of their war-tattered past — the Afghan Army Air Corps soon will start using force in their missions, U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Walter Givhan said Wednesday.
Officials called it a significant step for a unit that grew from nothing just a few years ago.
"This has been part of a very deliberate training regimen that we have created for them," Givhan told reporters at the Pentagon during a half-hour videoconference from Kabul. "We've taken them through an entire syllabus to include training on rules of engagement, and when they can shoot and when they can't shoot, to get them ready for this."
Givhan added: "The roles that they initially take on will not be full-fledged close air support-type roles, but will be a little bit simpler."
That will include missions like fighter escorts and shooting in self defense as the Afghan pilots continue to train for full attack operations missions, Givhan said. He did not give a timeline of exactly when that would happen.
The Afghan pilots also will abide by rules put in place earlier this year that restrict U.S. troops from launching air attacks without first taking specific steps to minimize civilian casualties. Those rules were enacted by Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, after deadly airstrikes in Farah province in May that killed at least dozens of civilians.
There are currently 2,700 airmen in the Afghan corps, and Givhan said it's hoped that number will grow to 7,250 by 2016.
By Lara Jakes - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Aug 12, 2009 13:14:27 EDT
WASHINGTON — After years of recruiting and training, Afghan airmen are getting ready to fight.
Now equipped with Russian-made attack helicopters — a relic of their war-tattered past — the Afghan Army Air Corps soon will start using force in their missions, U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Walter Givhan said Wednesday.
Officials called it a significant step for a unit that grew from nothing just a few years ago.
"This has been part of a very deliberate training regimen that we have created for them," Givhan told reporters at the Pentagon during a half-hour videoconference from Kabul. "We've taken them through an entire syllabus to include training on rules of engagement, and when they can shoot and when they can't shoot, to get them ready for this."
Givhan added: "The roles that they initially take on will not be full-fledged close air support-type roles, but will be a little bit simpler."
That will include missions like fighter escorts and shooting in self defense as the Afghan pilots continue to train for full attack operations missions, Givhan said. He did not give a timeline of exactly when that would happen.
The Afghan pilots also will abide by rules put in place earlier this year that restrict U.S. troops from launching air attacks without first taking specific steps to minimize civilian casualties. Those rules were enacted by Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, after deadly airstrikes in Farah province in May that killed at least dozens of civilians.
There are currently 2,700 airmen in the Afghan corps, and Givhan said it's hoped that number will grow to 7,250 by 2016.