CAPT. JEFF M. NAGAN/U.S. AIR FORCE
For the first time since the fall of the Taliban, Pohantoon-e-Hawayee, the Afghan Air Force Academy, graduated a class of 184 new officers in May 2015. Graduation came at the end of a year’s worth of study that included English language classes, aviation instruction and religious studies.
“Be strong and be prepared,” Afghan Air Force Maj. Gen. Abdul Wahab Wardak, commanding general of the Afghan Air Force, told graduates. “You are the future of the Afghan Air Force. The people of Afghanistan are proud of you. Do not forget that you are here to serve them.”
Many of the new officers will pursue careers in the Afghan Air Force as C-208, Mi-17 and MD-530 operators. Others will fill positions in more than 25 career fields, such as maintenance, logistics and administration.
“Now that you have graduated, you have a large responsibility,” said Afghan Lt. Gen. Mohammad Dawran, deputy chief of staff, Ministry of Defense. “We need to serve this nation, the people and help them. You work for a united Afghanistan — not your province, but your nation.”
In addition to the graduates, the graduation hall teemed with senior military leaders, parliamentarians, civic leaders, current cadets and coalition advisers along with national and regional media.
“We have the intention and the goal to support our people,” said Afghan 2nd Lt. Azizi, who graduated second academically in the class. “We promise our people we will do everything we can for their safety and bring them peace.”
To graduate, the cadets completed three phases of training, encompassing more than 1,500 hours of coursework. Similar to other military schools, the first two phases provide leadership, tactics and military training. However, the third phase focuses on studies unique to the Air Force, such as tactics, avionics, air safety and meteorology.
“The Afghan National Army cannot succeed without the Air Force,” Dawran said. “When the ground forces are fighting and they see and hear a helicopter flying overhead, they will fight more courageously because they know they have your protection.”