AFSOC begins spotlight series, reflects on lessons learned from Tora Bora

by Matt Durham
Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs

6/25/2014 - HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- "On 10 September we thought we had everything we needed. It's September 10th again."

Lt. Gen. Eric Fiel, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, said this to a packed auditorium of Air Commandos attending the first in the "Spotlight on AFSOC" series of panel discussions designed to educate current AFSOC personnel on past dynamic missions and how to overcome operational challenges in the future.

The date was a reference to the attack on Sept. 11, 2001, and how many thought the American military was prepared for an attack. Fiel talked about the reason for the series and the dangers of always following the status quo.

"We thought we had the right equipment on 9/11, but after 13 years of war it turns out we didn't. Never get caught in the 'this has always worked' trap."

The June 19 discussion, titled "The Road to Tora Bora," examined the unique experiences of four Air Commandos during the 2001 operations across Afghanistan. The panel of retired Col. Ken Poole, Col. Kurt Buller, Lt. Col. Allison Black and Master Sgt. Marcus Millard gave personal accounts of their roles in the planning room and on the battlefield, and how they constantly had to readjust.

Each of the panel member's accounts wove a thread allowing attendees to learn real-world lessons, and illuminated the untold stories of Air Commandos. Buller and Millard were Special Tactics Airmen and talked about closing with the enemy and overcoming physical and equipment challenges. Poole examined the demands of integrating into the air operations center, and quickly establishing relationships to allow our Airmen to safely operate in Afghan airspace.

"Everybody wanted to be in the fight. Nobody wants to be left behind," said Buller, then a member of the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron and one of the lead special tactics officers during the beginning phases of combat operations in Afghanistan. His actions included interfacing, coordinating and planning with sister service special operations task forces to bring our Airmen to the fight. Additionally Buller led a Special Tactics team on an airdrop to seize and subsequently control a key airfield in western Afghanistan.

Buller's main focus during the panel, however, was on telling the stories of the many Air Commandos that led the charge across Afghanistan on the way to Tora Bora. Embedded within multiple task force teams, these Air Commandos proved to be the missing link in taking down Taliban strongholds across Afghanistan, culminating with the Battle of Tora Bora in December 2001.

The battle gets its name from the mountain region where the Taliban had reinforced fighting positions and an extensive cave network. Although hundreds of terrorists were killed, the battle is also remembered as a missed opportunity to capture or kill Osama Bin Laden.

Millard, a combat controller with the 23rd STS, was embedded with a team at Tora Bora and controlled hundreds of aircraft and millions of pounds of ordnance in the hunt for Bin Laden.

Black was named the "Angel of Death" by an Afghan warlord while flying as a navigator in an AC-130H Spectre gunship. The warlord heard her on the radio and was surprised that the Air Force sent a woman to fight the Taliban. He immediately contacted an opposing Taliban commander and mocked him by saying that the United States knows that women can kill his troops. The same northern alliance warlord later gave Black an AK-47 automatic rifle and called her the now-famous "Angel of Death."

"Since 9/11 we have not reflected quite as much as we should have," said Maj. Gen. Norm Brozenick, AFSOC vice commander. "It is absolutely critical we learn these lessons and pass them on."

The Spotlight on AFSOC series will offer quarterly discussions with firsthand accounts focused on AFSOC's role in the planning and execution of combat operations in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The series is timed to the command's 25th anniversary in 2015.

"This is worthy work," said Poole.