Afghan air force maintainers successfully inspected, serviced, and launched a C-27 transport on their own from Kabul, checking off another important first for the infant force. The maintainers have been working with NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan advisors for the past eight months in preparation for the event, which is considered a major step toward the AAF’s autonomy. “I am proud of the C-27 AAF maintainers and of how hard they have worked to get to this point,” said TSgt. Charles McCollum, C-27 crew chief advisor with the 440th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron, of the Dec. 8 mission. He added, “We have a ways to go, but they are well on their way to becoming professional maintainers,” (Kabul release by MC3 Jared E Walker) (See also Afghan C-27 Fleet Hits Operating Milestone from the Daily Report archives.)
Air Force Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich assumed command of U.S. European Command on July 1, taking over the key assignment as the U.S. and its allies contend with a resurgent Russia and a grinding war in Ukraine.
