NCR 22 Assumes Authority in CENTCOM AOR; Operations Begin

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Jason Carter, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7 Public Affairs

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (NNS) -- The 30th Naval Construction Regiment (NCR), Task Force Forager, transitioned to the 22nd NCR, Task Force Stethem, during a transfer of authority (TOA) ceremony, Feb. 16, 2012, on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.

The 30th NCR, from Port Hueneme, Calif., served as the command and control element for Task Force Forager, which was responsible for construction engineering and engineering support in Southern, Southwestern and Western Afghanistan.

The TOA's officiating officer, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. William E. Rapp, deputy commanding general for Support, commended the task force for its many successes during its six-month deployment.

"You need to be extremely proud of your accomplishments," Rapp said.

Task Force Forager and 30th NCR Chief Staff Officer, U.S. Navy Cmdr. Erik Karlson, said the task force did an amazing job supporting the mission in Afghanistan and the Afghan people, and thanked all of his subordinate commands for their hard work.

"It has been an absolute honor to have served with you," Karlson said.

Task Force Forager performed numerous engineering missions such as water wells, which provided clean water for Afghan villages, placed and repaired bridges and partnered with Afghan military engineers to aid in the smooth transition to Afghan leadership.

U.S. Navy Capt. Kathryn A. Donovan, Task Force Stethem and 22nd NCR Commodore, said her team was honored to take over such an important mission from such a classy command.

"We are very excited to work with the coalition and our service partners," Donovan said.

The 22nd NCR, from Gulfport, Miss., was previously deployed to Afghanistan from February to August 2010. The regiment is made up of approximately 90 U.S. Navy Seabees and support staff.

Newly deployed A-10 unit provides close air support

by Tech. Sgt. Renni Thornton, 451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- More than 200 pilots, maintainers and crew chiefs of the 81st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and the 81st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron arrived May 11 here to provide close air support throughout Afghanistan.

They are taking over from the Airmen of the 184th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.

"The mission of the unit is to provide close air support for coalition forces," said Lt. Col. Ronald Stuewe, the commander of the 81st EFS.

"That is the bread and butter of (the A-10 Thunderbolt II) and the bread and butter of the mission here," he said. "That's what we train to do and that is what we are here to execute."

The two units are scheduled to be deployed here for four months, said Capt. Kathleen Fitzpatrick, the commander of the 81st EAMXS.

They are assigned to the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.

The units brought with them most of the maintainers, aircrew flight equipment, intelligence, medical and support members assigned to their home station, Captain Fitzpatrick said.

Although this is the unit's first time here, the A-10 unit has deployed to other locations in the area of responsibility.

"We are glad to be here and ready to go. We've hit the ground running. We've had a great start to what seems like a fantastic deployment," Colonel Stuewe said.

MC-12 begins mission in southern Afghanistan

by Tech. Sgt. Renni Thornton, 451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- Airmen from the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing here welcomed one of the newest members of the Air Force's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance weapons systems to Kandahar Airfield March 29.

The MC-12 Liberty aircraft is a manned special-mission turboprop aircraft designed for ISR and brings a different capability to the fight, said Lt. Col. Darren Halford, the 361st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron commander.

The aircraft flew its first combat sortie here April 1. The MC-12 Liberty provides real-time tactical ISR, with analysts and aircrew deployed together for seamless operations and maximum interaction with joint ground forces.

More aircraft and crews are expected to join this one in the future, Colonel Halford said. In addition to the impressive capabilities of the MC-12, this second squadron in Afghanistan will provide tremendous capacity.

"The MC-12 unparalleled capability to exploit the high ground, and give ground forces vital information about enemy locations and actions," Colonel Halford said. "The MC-12 will protect U.S. and coalition lives, and will be a vital tool helping Afghanistan defeat the insurgency."

The crew consists of a pilot, a co-pilot, a sensor operator and a cryptologic operator, while imagery analysts in the ISR exploitation cell act as a fifth crewmember, exploiting information and liaising with ground forces.

Pilots are trained on the aircraft by officials from the 186th Mississippi Air National Guard based in Meridian, Miss. In less than two years, three squadrons have stood up as solely expeditionary units with no permanent home station.

The newest MC-12s have extended-range fuel tanks, which can increase range and endurance.

"The 361st ERS is building on the lessons learned, successes and proud tradition's already established at the 362nd (Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron) and 4th (Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron)," Colonel Halford said.

The 362nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, surpassed 2,000 sorties in early March and the second MC-12 unit to stand up, the 4th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, surpassed 300 sorties in its first three months.

Airmen demonstrate unmanned aircraft not merely 'drones'

by Staff Sgt. Zachary Wilson, AFCENT Combat Camera News Team

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- The door to the 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron features a drawing of an MQ-1 Predator armed with Hellfire missiles underscored with the words "We're not drones - we fire back."

Often referred to by reporters as "drones," unmanned aircraft like the MQ-1 Predator and RQ-4 Global Hawk are remotely-flown weapons systems flown both locally and stateside from ground stations using satellite uplinks. They're also far more complex than the U.S. military's relatively more simplified radio-controlled drone aircraft used for aerial target practice, according to unmanned aircraft system professionals.

For the Airmen flying and maintaining the lethal Predator and its big brother, the MQ-9 Reaper, from Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, and from Creech Air Force Base, Nev., the message is demonstrated to their adversaries on a regular basis.

"(Both the MQ-1 and MQ-9 are weapons-carrying aircraft,) and both have a hunter-killer role in addition to their intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities," said Lt. Col. Scott Miller, the 62nd ERS commander, who is deployed from the 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Creech AFB.

Performing dual-missions of close-air support and ISR taskings, the Predator can stay airborne for more than 12 hours at 50,000 feet and the Reaper can stay up for a longer period of time at even higher altitudes, according to squadron officials. Boasting a full-motion video camera with various modes that can detect enemy movements, the Predator and Reaper also carry the Hellfire missile. In addition to carrying a larger payload of Hellfires, the UAs bring to the fight a set of two 500 lbs. laser-guided bombs that allow operators to not only observe and detect hostile forces, but also eliminate them if called upon to do so.

"Both aircraft can initiate and complete the 'killchain'," Colonel Miller said. "With their ability to loiter for long periods of time over a target, eliminate it, stay on station and then provide the (bomb damage assessment,) they provide continuity to a mission and prove to be invaluable assets."

The aircraft are flown jointly by the 62nd ERS crews stationed here with the 451st Air Expeditionary Group and by crews back at Creech using satellite uplinks that transfer control from the local pilots who taxi, launch, land and recover the aircraft (all from trailers adjacent to the flightline) and the Creech aviators flying inside of mission control elements performing missions across Afghanistan. British Royal Air Force counterparts also fly the Reaper.

General Atomics contractors perform maintenance on the Reaper while responsibility for Predator maintenance is undertaken by 62nd ERS Airmen.

"As this aircraft is like 90 percent avionics, it's a pretty unique experience to work on it," said Senior Airman Doug Cox, a 62nd ERS MQ-1 avionics specialist from Creech AFB. "We're asked to do a lot more than our traditional specialties and most of us are trained up on crew chief duties such as performing 60-hour inspections, changing spark plugs, engine oil and things like that."

First Lt. Andrew Dowd, also deployed from Creech AFB as the unit's maintenance officer, agreed.

"This aircraft does not have hydraulic fluid and operates using electro-servos," he said, also noting the aircraft recently reached a 500,000 flight hour milestone. "It's a very unique platform, but of course, when it's all said and done, it's the $1.2 million camera that runs the show."

After the aircraft are airborne and are handed off by the Kandahar crew, Creech aviators perform the majority of traditional mission taskings. However, the 62nd ERS Airmen increasingly are taking responsibility for executing missions within the local area to aid and protect coalition forces stationed around Kandahar who are fighting the enemy. Sometimes weapons are dropped, demonstrating the lethality and uniqueness of the 62nd ERS' mission and aircraft to friends and foes alike.

Notably, some missions are often generated to fly only within the local area, putting the responsibility for the entire mission on the shoulders of the Kandahar-based aircrews.

It's great to have a direct impact on the war," said Airman 1st Class Patrick Snyder, an MQ-9 sensor operator who maneuvers the system's cameras and sensors as well as directs its munitions when launched. "We provide over-watch for the Canadians fighting the Taliban and then have coffee with them at the end of day (here at Kandahar.) It really makes us feel connected."

Capt. Ryan Jodi, a B-1 pilot who now flies the Reaper from his cockpit position in a ground control element, also acknowledged his preference for performing missions locally as opposed to Creech.

"I really enjoy doing the launches and landings from here," he said. "It really gives you more of a flying feeling. And doing local missions is also great because we can really appreciate the camaraderie we have with our coalition partners who we live with here."

With spring arriving in Afghanistan, Taliban and Al Qaeda insurgents once again will ramp up hostile operations against coalition forces around the country as they have demonstrated each year during the duration of Operation Enduring Freedom.

However, with the planned increase of forces within the area, that means more assets are on the way, with 62nd ERS leaders preparing for additional aircraft and more mission sorties generated from combatant commanders. With nearly 10 additional Reapers coming to supplement the squadron's approximately dozen MQ-9 aircraft, Colonel Miller says that means more work.

"In 2005, we were generating about two sorties a day," he said. "We've more than quadrupled that now and we are going to expect a lot more coming in the future."

Col. Ted Osowski, the 451st AEG commander, agreed with Colonel Miller on the demand for the ISR hunter/killer platforms in-theater.

"No other asset is more sought after," he said. "Close air support and ISR are very valuable to the ground commanders."

New Kandahar unit prepares for troop increase

by Staff Sgt. Zachary Wilson, U.S. Air Forces Central combat camera news team

A C-130J Hercules assigned to the activated 772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron arrives March 14 at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. The new airlift squadron has been set up at Kandahar Airfield to assist with the increase of U.S. troops to the region. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. James L. Harper Jr.)

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- Kandahar Airfield officials activated the 772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron March 15 here as the NATO base prepares for the build-up of forces to support Operation Enduring Freedom.

The newest airlift squadron in the Air Force will be flying the C-130J Hercules, and serve under the 451st Air Expeditionary Group to assist with the increase of U.S. troops to the region.

One day before the activation ceremony, local missions were being flown by American aircrews when the squadron's first four aircraft arrived at Kandahar Airfield.

"Tactical airlift is a high-demand asset here and we are at the leading edge of the Afghanistan surge of forces," said Col. Ted Osowski, the 451st AEG commander who is deployed from the Air Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. "The C-130J is a very capable aircraft and we are happy to have them. They're going to be busy."

The airfield inhabited by several coalition partners in southern Afghanistan is undergoing a massive expansion and construction in every direction as part of the installation.

The new mission will have the 772nd EAS Airmen focused primarily within Afghanistan, said Lt. Col. Dan Tulley, the 772nd EAS commander and native of Bell Air, Md.

"The 'bread and butter' of any combat airlift unit is tactical airlift," said Colonel Tulley, deployed from Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. "Being here in country will allow us to focus on the forward operating bases and getting supplies to the people who need it here on the ground."

The new unit, which will have eight aircraft and about 120 operations and maintenance Airmen, comes from the only active-duty Air Force organization flying the C-130J model in combat: the 41st Airlift Squadron from Little Rock AFB. Before being stood up at Kandahar Airfield, the unit was stationed with the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at another installation within Southwest Asia responsible for operations for both the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters.

For the aviators performing the daily mission, the change is welcome.

"It's a definite change of scenery," said Capt. Shawn Johnson, a C-130 pilot deployed from Little Rock AFB. "We're looking forward to becoming Afghanistan-focused as our missions will become more specialized to this particular area, and at the same time, there will be more for us to study like some of the airdrops we'll be doing here. It will definitely broaden our knowledge further on how to utilize the aircraft."

Master Sgt. Patrick Drozd, a loadmaster also deployed from Little Rock AFB who calls Hallettsville, Texas, home, agreed.

"This is going to be fun," he said. "We are supporting the troops and the (forward operating bases) in-country, and being the only active-duty C-130J unit in theater, we will have the opportunity to lay the foundation for future C-130J operations here."

However, for the command staff of the 451st, bedding down a unit of 120 new people into an already cramped area was no easy task. The first issue to be tackled was gaining ramp space for the squadron's eight aircraft.

"Before we were able to park these aircraft on 'Whiskey' ramp, we had to find a new home for contractor Mi-8 helicopters that were out there previously," said Chief Master Sgt. Steven Bohannon, the 451st AEG superintendent deployed from McChord AFB, Wash. "We put out a contract for over 200,000 square feet of aluminum matting made up of four-foot-by-four-foot squares."

The contract was awarded to a local contractor, but they were not trained in the specifics of laying the matting, Chief Bohannon said. Adding to the already challenging task was the assignment of Air Force third-country national escorts; they would not arrive in time for construction to begin and there would be no place for the aircraft to park.

Working with a local civil engineer Red HORSE detachment, the 451st identified third-country national escorts from within its existing ranks and the Red HORSE Airmen began helping the local workers lay the matting, getting the project completed in time to relocate the Mi-8s and providing crucial ramp space for the soon-to-be-arriving C-130Js.

Once the ramp was completed, the 451st AEG needed to create workspace for the new Airmen. Chief Bohannon again reached out to the Red HORSE unit and a team of Air Force civil engineers who travel throughout the area of responsibility. They were able to erect a clamshell tent for maintenance and two small tents for operations.

"This group was the J-2 team from (U.S. Air Forces Central) A-7," Chief Bohannon said. "They travel the (area of responsibility) working on large projects and were able to complete this job in three days. They were nailing the last stakes the day these guys came in."

With the logistical issues completed, all the incoming 41st AS Airmen had to focus on was what they deployed to do: keep their aircraft flying.

"We can fulfill air tasking orders right now," said Tech. Sgt. Donny Poland, a crew chief from Little Rock AFB and a Philippines native who deployed ahead of the rest of his squadron on the advance team. "Being here really makes it feel like we are accomplishing something important and contributing."