Close
Back
Download NATO’s broadcast-quality video content free of charge
Log in
No account?
Forgot your password?
NATO MULTIMEDIA ACCOUNT
Access NATO’s broadcast-quality video content free of charge
Create an account
Check your inbox and enter verification code
We have sent a verification code to your email address.
.
Enter the code to verify your account. This code will expire in 30 minutes.
You have successfully created your account
From now on you can download videos from our website
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would also like to subscribe to the newsletter and receive our latest updates, click on the button below.
Reset password
Enter the email address you registered with and we will send you a code to reset your password.
Reset password
We have sent a verification code to your email address.
Enter the code to verify your account. This code will expire in 30 minutes.
Create a new password
The password must be at least 12 characters long, no spaces, include upper/lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.
Your password has been updated
Click the button to return to the page you were on and log in with your new password.
On 14 March, more than 80 Afghan air force pilots graduated from a specialised English course during a ceremony on the Afghan Air Force (AAF) base in Kabul, Afghanistan.
The course offered training on various levels of language proficiency ranging from elementary to intermediate. It focused on aviation-centric English in order to increase the airmanship of Afghan pilots.
As the universal language for aviation, it was hoped that an increased understanding of English among the Afghan pilots would allow the country’s airforce to improve safety measures and operability with regional and global partners.
Classes were held three times each week throughout the nine-month course, sponsored by the British Council, which has been working in Afghanistan since 1964.
“NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan [NATC-A] goes out looking for help developing the AAF,” said Colonel Kenneth Madura, Commander of the 438th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group, which works directly with the graduating pilots. “The British Council is unique because they came to us willing to help,” he said. Colonel Madura continued, “NATC-A does not have the resources to train all of the people who need to learn English, so this programme has been a blessing for the AAF and NATC-A.”
Director of the British Council and cultural counselor for the British Embassy Paul Smith commented, “We are interested in developing Afghan leaders for the immediate tomorrow”.
Speaking on behalf of his fellow graduates, AAF Captain Waedallah expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to learn English and the advantages that brings. “It is necessary to know enough English to take advantage of the help and efforts provided by the world community,” he said.
Colonel Iain Smailes, the British defence attaché, agreed that learning English created a wide range of possibilities for the graduates. He said that it opened the door for a better working relationship between the AAF, Ministry of Defence, and the Afghan people with the international community, ensuring a working relationship geared towards stability in Afghanistan.
On completion of the English course, the pilots returned to their units where officials hope their increased understanding of English will contribute to the development of the AAF.