How fucking lame is this as a sign of 'progress'?

[unhappycamper]

Tech. Sgt. Dennis Flanagan advises Afghan air corps maintainers on the Russian-made MI-17 transport helicopter at Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan.


Afghan air corps new name a sign of progress
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Aug 2, 2010 6:03:45 EDT

The Afghan National Army Air Corps has a new name: the Afghan Air Force.

Though still not an independent service like most modern air forces, Afghanistan’s air arm is making rapid progress that the new name symbolizes, say the U.S. airmen who train the Afghans.

Already this year, the Afghan Air Force has added the position of loadmaster — it now has four — and completed its first low-altitude airdrop. The first all-Afghan air crew should fly a mission by September. In 2011, the air arm expects to add thousands of airmen and about 20 more aircraft.

The new name, which went into effect in June, has bolstered the morale of Afghan airmen, according to the American advisers.

“The biggest change is the pride in the name,” said Col. Ken Madura, commander of the 438th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group, which trains the Afghan wing.



:woohoo: