{"id":64969,"date":"2018-02-11T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-02-11T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/02\/11\/meet-the-first-afghan-special-forces-instructor-pilot-trained-in-country\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T14:44:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T14:44:08","slug":"meet-the-first-afghan-special-forces-instructor-pilot-trained-in-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/02\/11\/meet-the-first-afghan-special-forces-instructor-pilot-trained-in-country\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the first Afghan Special Forces instructor pilot trained in-country"},"content":{"rendered":"
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This is the first Afghan Special Forces instructor pilot trained in-country – the ability to train its own instructor pilots should help grow the ranks.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

One of Afghanistan\u2019s elite pilots<\/a> is not only flying the helicopters he grew up watching on TVs at the local bazaar, but he\u2019s teaching others to fly them, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe just had TV in bazaar, and I saw on TV that there was a film going on, and all the guys, the pilots, were coming and rescuing the people,\u201d the pilot recounted in a video released by NATO\u2019s Resolute Support mission. \u201cAfter that, I decided, and it became my dream, to be a pilot … to bring those guys from the battlefield and to be a [savior] for them.\u201d
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Resolute Support identified the man as the first Afghan Special Forces instructor pilot to be trained in-country, but officials did not include his name, likely for security concerns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The unnamed pilot is a member of Afghanistan\u2019s Special Mission Wing<\/a>, an elite unit that conducts rotary-wing and fixed-wing intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance for all Afghan special operations forces<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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An Afghan 777 Special Mission Wing Mi-17 helicopter approaches a landing zone location during casualty evacuation training south of Kandahar, Afghanistan, Jan. 28, 2018. The 777th SMW is Afghanistan\u2019s elite aviation unit, capable of nighttime aerial insertion and extraction. (NSOCC-A photo by Mr. Max Blumenfeld)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Special Mission Wing\u2019s helicopters are notable for their capability to provide nighttime aerial insertion and extraction for ground operators. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are doing a different kind of mission,\u201d the pilot explained. \u201cWe are doing a counter-terrorism mission, and we are doing a counter-narcotic mission.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the unit\u2019s Afghan pilots have been operating Russian-designed Mi-17 helicopters on their own for some time, the ability to train its own instructor pilots will hopefully help expand the Afghan ranks even faster. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat is what we are for \u2014 we are helping them get on a higher level,\u201d the pilot said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the Mi-17 fleet forms the backbone of the Afghan Air Force<\/a>, the U.S. government plans to supply 159 UH-60 Black Hawks<\/a> to Afghanistan by 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first Black Hawks began arriving in Afghanistan in September, with training to transition Mi-17 pilots to the new U.S. helicopters beginning in October, a spokesperson for Operation Resolute Support told Military Times last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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An Afghan Mi-17 helicopter pilot listens to an instructor pilot during the first day of UH-60 Black Hawk flight training Oct. 2, 2017, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Train, Advise, Assist Command-Air advisors anticipate that experienced Mi-17 pilots will be able to transition quickly to the new platform. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander W. Riedel)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe want to save our Afghan people, help our ground forces and destroy the enemies of our country so that our people live in a secure and free environment,\u201d the unnamed pilot said. \u201cMy job is to make sure all Afghan people live under the flag of Afghanistan with guaranteed security, prosperity and brotherhood.\u201d
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The increased capabilities of the Afghan Air Force, to include deploying laser-guided bombs<\/a> from their A-29 light attack aircraft, has been a subject of pride for the NATO mission in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has on several occasions highlighted the aircrews and aircraft as a fundamental part of the strategy in defeating insurgent forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During a September visit to Nangarhar province, Ghani said the government will spend $6 billion on the Afghan Air Force over the next four years, according to TOLO News<\/a>, an Afghan news service.
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An Afghan Mi-17 pilot take a first look at the cockpit of an Afghan Air Force UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter Oct. 2, 2017, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Mi-17 pilots are the first to train on the new weapons system and Train, Advise, Assist Command-Air advisors anticipate the experienced aviators will be able to jump-start the new platform into the fight for Afghanistan. The UH-60 is part of the AAF modernization program and the latest addition to the growing air service. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander W. Riedel)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At a police academy graduation in January, Ghani added that \u201cthe [Afghan] Air Force will be tripled and the Commando Forces will be doubled. This will give the space for [Afghan] police to focus on rule of law.\u201d
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By increasing the Afghan Air Force\u2019s organic instruction capability with rated instructor pilots, the growth their branch needs will be all that much easier to accomplish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs the first instructor and first trainer pilot trained in Afghanistan, I am proud that Afghanistan now has the capability [to] produce instructor pilots,\u201d the unnamed pilot said.
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