A C-130H aircrew serving with the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron brought the last US personnel and cargo out of Forward Operating Base Sharana in Paktika province, Afghanistan, according to Air Forces Central Command. Completion of the mission on Sept. 28 came three days before the United States transitioned the base to the Afghan government’s control, states an Oct. 6 AFCENT release. The handover is part of the phased pullout of US and coalition combat forces from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. “It’s a big milestone for what we’ve been doing out here, finally shutting down something,” said SSgt. Nick Sanborn, 774th EAS loadmaster. The squadron operates from Bagram Airfield. The last US soldiers at Sharana had been training and advising the Afghan National Army in the region, according to the release. (Sharana report MSgt. Benjamin Bloker)
The Air Force's new Aircraft Readiness Unit will maintain and provide Collaborative Combat Aircraft for operations, but won’t serve as a “schoolhouse” teaching fighter pilots how to manage these escort drones.