NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan Change of Command

COM NTM-A Remarks for NATC-A Change of Command

27 August 2011, Kabul International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan

 

Distinguished guests of all nationalities, thank you for attending this special ceremony today.

Thanks especially to our Afghan partners for being here today. Each of you honors us with your presence. Thank you all for being here with us on this very special day for both the Ministry of Defense and NTM-A.

Gen. Wahab thank you for those kind and inspiring words that highlight the strong bond you and Brig. Gen. Dave Allvin have built together. Thank you for working “Shohna ba Shohna” with Dave and his team and for your continued support to NTM-A. Thanks as well for your strong and steady leadership of the Afghan Air Force and your team of professionals. You have made great strides in developing the Afghan Air Force and we see it every day.

Thanks as well to Maj. Gen. Tod Wolters for the tremendous support that your command provides to our efforts here working with our Afghan partners. Tod, you are a true “Wingman” to all of us in NTM-A.

And to each of our other guests here today, I thank you for your support of NATO Air Training Command – Afghanistan and for the entire NTM-A mission. Your staunch and steadfast support is greatly appreciated.

Finally, to the members of the NATO Air Training Command, thank you for your commitment to excellence. Your accomplishments over this past year alone are a testament to your dedication to this mission and your commitment to a cause greater than yourself. This command truly highlights the international and joint commitment to developing a capable air force in support of the Afghan National Security Force. Each of you is the face of that international effort and the face of professionalism. Thank you for what you do.

And to Brig. Gen. Dave Allvin, who has led this effort over the past year, our deepest thanks for your vision, your courage and your inspiration.

Dave Allvin is a visionary leader. While in command, Dave had the vision to chart the future growth for the Afghan Air Force. Over the past year, the Afghan Air Force has grown to over 4,200-strong with 53 airframes. Over the next year, the Afghan Air Force will continue to grow by doubling the size of the C-27 fleet, increasing the Mi-17 fleet by half, and introducing fixed-wing and rotary trainers.

And as equally impressive, under Dave’s leadership we have dramatically improved the level of international participation in the NATC-A mission by increasing the number of countries who are now contributing trainers and air mentor teams from 6 to 16 nations.

Additionally, Dave was a champion for greater gender integration within the Afghan Air Force and helped enable the first four female Afghan pilot candidates to complete English language training at Thunder Lab and is closely monitoring their progress at their subsequent training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas,  and eventually at Fort Rucker, Ala., for their helicopter instruction courses.

Each of these initiatives and accomplishments could not have happened without Dave Allvin’s visionary leadership of building a professional and capable Afghan Air Force.

And because of Dave’s passion and understanding of history, the Afghan Air Force will be enduring.

I remember the first time Dave described the bone yard of old Afghan airframes that are stacked all around Shindand airbase. At this location, the remains of a once powerful, Soviet – built Afghan Air Force lie in ruins serving as a stark reminder of an air force that was neither self sustaining nor enduring. Having seen this tragic scene with my own eyes, I quickly recognized the wisdom of Dave’s observations and warnings of never repeating history.

Because of his efforts to develop an indigenous training base, Dave led the Afghan Air Force to develop its own flight training center in Shindand. When it opens later this year, Afghanistan will have a world class training center in order to train its own pilots – and some day perhaps also train pilots from other nations as well.

This visionary effort helps ensure the Afghan Air Force is a self-sustaining and enduring institution of national pride for all Afghans.

Dave also has tremendous courage and it was this courage that allowed him to make some extremely tough decisions.

When it was clear to him that the Kabul Mi-17 fleet was not safe, he made the hard call and grounded the Wing. Through his leadership, Dave made sure our Afghan partners understood the importance of safety, maintenance, and professionalism.

While a temporary loss to air capability, the rehabilitation program Dave established reset the Afghan Air Force and improved its operational capability that we see today.

His vision to see the long term benefits of this action coupled with his courage to face this challenge head on, made him an incredible senior advisor and advocate for not only NATC-A, but also for the Afghans themselves.

His courage and recommendations served as an opportunity to help the Afghan Air Force address the challenges of today by building a capable and sustainable phased maintenance and training program that meets the demands of today and tomorrow.

In addition to Dave’s tremendous vision and unwavering courage, Dave is also inspirational.

The days and weeks after we lost nine of our trainers were difficult, but Dave never stopped leading and the mission continued while we grieved the tragic loss of those we now know as “The NATC-A Nine”. During this devastating period of time, Dave Allvin was the steady hand supporting the entire NATC-A Team. He was the calming voice comforting grieving families and widows, and he was the listening ear addressing his trainers’ and leaders’ concerns no matter when or where he was approached.

Dave, for your vision, courage, and inspiration, we are all better off today. When you return home to your wife Gina, daughters Francesca and Reagan, and son Grant, tell them that you made a difference. You made a difference in the lives of the airmen of NATC-A. You made a difference for the Afghan Air Force. And you made a difference for all of Afghanistan.

Thank you for your service and may God bless you and your loved ones as you return home to refuel, refit and most importantly, reconnect with your family and friends.

We know you will continue to make a difference when you lead, inspire, and excel as the new Vice Wing Commander for Tanker Airlift Control Center at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.

And for every goodbye, we in the military know that there must also be a hello. In this case, we welcome Brig. Gen. Tim Ray, otherwise known as “T-Ray,” to the helm as commander of NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan.

Tim is exceptionally qualified and prepared for this unique but highly rewarding position. A rated pilot with more than 3,700 hours in various aircraft to include the B-52 and B-1, we know that he is ready to take the reins of NATC-A.

Tim, you are taking charge of an incredible team of professionals who have been strengthened through adversity and bonded in blood. They know the magnitude of the challenges they face. They also possess the ingenuity, adaptability and creativity to know how to get the job done and the resiliency and resolve to see this mission through.

I know you will take great care of them and provide the sage counsel and role model they all expect from their commander.

We welcome you to the team and look forward to working together as we continue to help the Afghans build a capable and enduring Air Force.

As I close today, I wanted to share a quote that I think embodies the spirit and mission of NATC-A and our corps of trainers and advisors.

This is a quote from the late Arthur Ashe, who was one of the world’s greatest tennis players and a pioneer in so many areas most notably in breaking down racial barriers within the sport of tennis.

He said “True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others, at whatever cost.”

Thanks to each of you for your true heroism and for your willingness to serve here in Afghanistan, to serve your nation and to serve the people of Afghanistan

Category: Speeches - Lt. Gen William B. Caldwell, IV