DOD watchdog to look into Afghan Air Force progress

The Pentagon's inspector general announced this week it would investigate the progress of U.S. European Command's and U.S. Central Command's training, advising and assisting efforts to build a sustainable, successful Afghan Air Force.

Analysis of the Train, Advise and Assist Command-Air will begin immediately, Deputy Inspector General for Special Plans and Operations Kenneth Moorefield wrote in a Feb. 2 letter to Defense and State department officials and the Government Accountability Office.

The U.S. Air Force advises senior Afghan leadership on maintenance and logistics and trains Afghan troops through the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing and 438th and 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Groups plus Lockheed Martin contractors, and coordinates procurement of aircraft like the light-attack A-29 Super Tucano.

Afghan forces have been hindered by a lack of experienced pilots and crews as well as an aircraft shortage, as U.S.-led NATO coalition troops scale back operations -- pushing more responsibility onto Afghans -- and Taliban forces regain ground.