C-208 Load

Members of the Afghan air force unload boxes of Mi-17 helicopter parts off a truck and load them to a Cessna 208 that will transport them to Herat, Afghanistan, July 28, 2012 at Kabul Afghanistan, International Airport Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Quinton Russ/RELEASED)

C-208 Load

An Afghan air force member carries a box of Mi-17 helicopter parts to a Cessna 208 that will transport them to Herat, Afghanistan, July 28, 2012 at Kabul Afghanistan, International Airport Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Quinton Russ/RELEASED)

A moment together

Afghan Air Force Sergeant Shahnawaz, C-27A loadmaster, Maj. Nik Mohamad, C-27A co-pilot, and Col. Aimall Pacha, C-27A aircraft commander, each assigned to the AAF Kabul Air Wing, stand for a moment on the Kabul, Afghanistan, International Airport flightline ahead of their first independent flying mission together without the onboard presence of coalition mentors. The crew flew a one-hour proficiency training mission June 19, 2012, the first C-27A independent flying mission for the Afghan AF. (Afghan Air Force photo/Capt. Rahmi Khoda Rahimi)

Marshalling test

Afghan Air Force Sgt. Yawar Khan concentrates while taking a test on aircraft marshalling techniques July 17, 2012 at Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Quinton Russ/RELEASED)

Aircrew briefing

Afghan air force Sgt. Shapoor makes calculations and adjustments during the aircrew briefing before takeoff, July 16, 2012 at Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan. Shapoor is a flight engineer assigned to the 379th Rotary Wing, Kandahar Air Base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Quinton Russ/RELEASED)

Pre-brief for C-27A flight

The first C-27A all-Afghan aircrew conducts an early-morning brief for a one-hour proficiency training mission June 19, 2012. The Afghan trio, made up of an aircraft commander (pilot), co-pilot and loadmaster, was the first Afghan crew to fly the C-27A independently. (Afghan Air Force photo/Capt. Rahmi Khoda Rahimi)