Enabling and building a safer Afghanistan: Sqn Ldr Dan Sagrott
Sqn Ldr Dan Sagrott is an adviser to the Afghan Ministry of Defence as part of NATO’s Resolute Support mission
He tells us about his experience in Afghanistan 👇
My role as an air advisor is important because I play a part in helping the Afghans move towards peace.
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Airpower is critical for success in this mission, not only because of the security situation but also because of the geography of Afghanistan.
Providing advice on this topic is my way of helping the Afghans as well as maintaining our freedom back home.
I travel to the Afghan Ministry Of Defence a couple of times each week and participate in meetings with their civil servants and members of the Afghan Air Force.
I advise the Aviation Programmes Directorate (APD), a long term project looking at the Afghan Air Force.
I also coach my Afghan partners on best uses for their air assets. I work closely with Train Advise Assist Command (TAAC) Air to ensure that we harmonise our efforts.
This isn’t my first operational posting. I have served overseas before, to list a few; USA, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Lithuania, South Sudan, Uganda and Chad.
Being part of the Armed Forces is a family thing for me. My Dad served, my Grandad served. I had a Great Uncle who flew Phantoms.
I tried other jobs but for me, this was a lifestyle choice…
The first time I travelled to my current place of work, I travelled down to RAF Brize Norton with a few other personnel from RAF Coningsby.
Having flown from Brize lots of times I went through the well-trodden path of check-in — it brought the memories back as I hadn’t been through in a couple of years.
I found a few people there that I knew who were going out to various places in the Middle East and caught up with what they were doing. There was also another person that I completed the Global High Threat Course with, and we were also going to the same location in Kabul.
Once we arrived, we had a short training package. A morning of briefs on the local area, Force Protection, policies and procedures were combined with the issuing of all of our theatre-specific equipment.
In the afternoon I completed a short-range package down at the pipe range. I then waited for my helicopter to arrive so that I could transfer to HQ Resolute Support. My replacement was very pleased to see me.
I didn’t realise how beautiful the country was. Having flown around the Joint Operating Area in the snow, the mountains look stunning in the low sun.
I also didn’t expect to have a BBQ and play cricket, but we did that to celebrate Australia Day with the Australians.
Only occasionally do I think about the broader effects of what I am doing could have on the rest of the world.
I do believe that what we are doing is helping the security of Britain.
