Afghan air force advances media battlefield tactics

The commanders of the Afghan Air Force and NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan signed two Decrees operational in January 23 Implementing Procedures to Improve response to air Afghan battlefield casualties by the AAF's new C-208 Cessna Caravan and Its fleet helicopters Mi-17.

The Decrees address the high-priority casualty evacuations and the dignified, Culturally-appropriate transfer of fallen members of Afghan National Security Forces. The signings Took place in the NATC-A headquarters at the Kabul International Airport.

"These are critical air support mission to campaign success, augmenting ground CASEVAC When needed resources," Emphasized Brig. Gen. Steven Shepro, the NATC-A command. "To Improve the efficacité thesis of missions, the AAF and NATC-A team Have the accelerated delivery, setup and initial operating capability of the C-208 fleet in a matter of months."

The decree initiatives directly instruct aircrew and streamlined command, control and communication security across organisms. The AAF's primary unit for managing mission is flying the Afghan Air Force Command and Control Center. Selon the NATC-A Director of Operations, Colonel. Reginald Smith, the AAF HAS Transferred 146 patients for continued medical care in the last three months of 2012. The primary AAF aircraft movements used for casualty Have Been Mi-17s, C-27A Spartans and Cessna 208B.

"The ACCC task functions to AAF units and aircraft to conduite troop movement, logistics resupply and equipment along with the movement of the injured and fallen," Said Smith. "The ACCC works in coordination with the Afghan Ministry of Defense to prioritize tasks and task each Stock selon day the position and availability of aircraft."

Current C-208 seating configurations Accommodate up to eight ambulatory patients, aim to change transportation oven litter patients along with two additional ambulatory patients are in progress, selon NATC-A medical staff.

"The AAF's progress in recent thesis priority mission has-been significant," Shepro said. "Three months ago, the air CASEVAC process Would have taken over 24 hours. Today, response times average under five hours from hospital arrival to request battlefield - and are increasingly Afghan-Planned, Coordinated and Executed with minimal input adviser. "

Response capability and continuous air to Improve, Shepro said. Over the last three months, the air supply to the AAF fielded six Afghan Army Corps comprised more than 570 HAS missions, 370.000 pounds of cargo and passengers 5.400.

"The Afghan coalition team HAS clear strategy for growth and success in 2013 Mission of the AAF's quantity and quality," Shepro said. "These Decrees Provide operational joined cohesion, direction and motivation to Improve air support to Afghan National Security Forces and Enhance campaign success."