838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group

838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group
An instructor from the squadron prepares to conduct a night vision goggle training mission with an Afghan Air Force student
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Training host country units
Part of	United States Air Forces Central
Insignia
838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group emblem

The 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group was the ISAF host unit at Shindand Air Base that as part of NATO Air Training Command - Afghanistan ^[1] was training and advising the Afghan Air Force Shindand Air Wing. ^[2] It was a group of the United States Air Force under the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing headquartered at Kabul.^{[ citation needed ]}

Advisors from the group have conducted humanitarian missions around Shindand Air Base. ^[3]

In mid 2011 the group received equipment (tents, environmental control units, latrine systems, shower systems, generators and electrical equipment) from FOB Delaram II to create a new camp for approximately 300 additional incoming personnel being deployed to Shindand. ^[4]

Units

• Italian Airbase Support Air Advisory Team (civil engineering, computers, basic networking, POL, fire fighting, medical, personnel, intelligence) ^[5]
• 444th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron

the 444th Squadron provided training in helicopters and light Cessna 182 aircraft to the Afghan Air Force. This included training with the use of night vision goggle while flying the MH-6 Little Bird at Shindand Air Base. ^[6]

• 445th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron (communications; transferred to 47th Garrison Command)^{[ citation needed ]}
• Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron (ESFS)^{[ citation needed ]} (base defense function transferred to 47th Garrison Command, September 2012) ^[7]
• Detachment 1 at Herat ^[8]
• 801st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron (helicopters)
• 802d Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron (training trainers and maintainers) ^{[9] [10]}
• 803rd Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron (fixed-wing; was 444th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron) ^{[11] [12] [13]}

• 
  444 AEAS
• 
  802 AEAS

• Army Colonel Michael Senters, ^[14] unknown - 13 July 2010
• Colonel Larry Bowers, 14 July 2010 ^[15] - 15 July 2011
• Colonel John Hokaj, 16 July 2011 ^[16] - 30 June 2012
• Colonel David Gossett, 1 July 2012 - 1 July 2013

Awards

Air Force Meritorious Unit Award

• 1 May 2011 - 30 April 2012 ^[17]
• 1 May 2012 - 30 April 2013 ^[18]
• 1 October 2013 - 30 September 2014 ^[19]
• 1 October 2014 - 6 February 2015 ^[20]

References

1. NATO Air Training Command: More Countries, More Experience, More Solutions, 9/18/2010
2. Capt. Jamie Humphries, 838th Airmen "train the trainer", 6 July 2011, 438th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
3. Advisory team engages on Afghan irrigation, Staff Sgt. Nadine Y. Barclay, 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, 30 March 2012
4. Capt. Jamie Humphries, Critical support equipment delivered to 838th AEAG, 438th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs, 26 June 2011
5. Shindand: Transfer of Authority for 838th AEAG/ASAAT ITAF Senior Advisor, 28 March 2012
6. Wassem, Capt Anastasia (19 March 2013). "NVG training increases AAF capabilities". US Air Forces Central Public Affairs. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
7. Forward, Charlie Company 3/144 (13 November 2012). "Charlie Company 3/144 Forward: Task Force Bowie - First 90 Days with Boots on Ground". Charlie Company 3/144 Forward. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
8. U.S. and Salvadoran airmen team up to mentor Afghans, U.S. Air Forces Central Public Affairs. 22 November 2011
9. Successful organizations are built around a strong core, Commentary by Senior Master Sgt. Brian Kruzelnick, 1/12/2012
10. "TIOH - Heraldry - 802d Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron". Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
11. Staff Sgt. Nadine Y. Barclay, AAF achieves first fixed-wing UPT flights in 30 years, 3/26/2012, 438th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
12. Afghan MI-17 Instructor Pilot trains student for first time
13. Video by Tech. Sgt. Matthew Pardini, 444th AEAS and Afghan Air Force Pilots Conduct a Pre-mission Briefing
14. Flickr: 838 AEAG Change of Command, "838 Air Expeditionary Advisory Group change of command ceremony help at the Shindand Air base, Afghanistan on July 14, 2010. U.S. Army Col. Mike Senters was relieved by U.S. Air Force Col. Larry Bowers."
15. U.S. Air Force 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group change of command ceremony help at the Shindand Air base, Afghanistan on July 14, 2010. U.S. Army Col. Mike Senters was relieved by U.S. Air Force Col. Larry Bowers. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Dave Quillen) Shindand Air Base Afghanistan's 838th Group Changes Coalition Command, 438 AEW Public Affairs, 15 July 2010
16. Brigadier General David Allvin, 438th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, Col. Larry Bowers outgoing commander of the 838 Air Expeditionary Advisory Group, and Col. John Hokaj, incoming 838th AEAG commander stand at attention during a change of command ceremony at Shindand Air Base, Afghanistan July 16. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Amber Williams)
17. USAFCENT order G-27772 2012
18. USAFCENT order G-40312 2013
19. USAFCENT order G-24444 2015
20. USAFCENT order G-16525 2016

External links

• Current Facebook page, Previous Facebook page
• 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group at Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System (DVIDS)