Dream Deployment - Travis major makes the most of his six months

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Ellen Hatfield
  • 349th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Maj. Alan Tornay returned from a six-month deployment to tell his colleagues that he had the "dream deployment." The fact that he earned the trust and friendship of his Afghan counterparts as well as a Bronze Star Medal speaks to his accomplishments while there.

A Reservist with the 82nd Aerial Port Squadron, and in civilian life the logistics manager of the 60th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Tornay had the rare opportunity to work with a joint task force, combining forces from all branches of the U.S. military, other NATO forces and the Afghan National Army.

Soon after arrival, he had the opportunity to travel and visit forward operating locations around Afghanistan. He was eventually forward deployed to the Special Operations Advisory Group at a camp that was inside a much larger Afghan base.

The camp housed about 250 people, which included only a few dozen U.S. military personnel. Everyone in camp had multiple roles. Tornay's primary role was as the Director of Logistics for the camp. In addition to ensuring the camp and its occupants had the resources they needed he also served as the mentor to the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command logistics officer. Tornay was the also the support center director with oversight of supply, food, engineering, ammunition, communications and personnel. He finished out his tour as the executive officer.

Almost every day of his deployment was spent with the G4 from Afghan
National Army Special Operations Corps, Lt. Col. "Qudos," (first name used in this story, for security reasons) assisting him to plan for the logistical needs of the special operations forces throughout the country.

"I'd meet with Col. Qudos, initially helping him and his staff with short-term planning," said the major. "What do we need here and now, how do we survive the day, or the week."

Tornay worked side-by-side with the Afghans, to give them mentoring and training, while simultaneously providing Qudos and his staff with the skills needed to provide for their own logistics needs. By the time Tornay left, the ANASOC was examining mid- and long-term goals. Qudos was better able to see the way ahead and start planning for their future, working to ensure the proper equipment, resources and materials were put in the right place at the right time, to support the war fighters within special operations.

"As coalition forces return home from Afghanistan, the Afghan Commandos and
Special Forces will be relied upon to fight the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and other enemies head-to-head," Tornay said. "These Special Operations soldiers are the elite fighting force in Afghanistan. They are sought after to take the fight to the enemy, and to protect the people so that NATO troops can come home sooner rather than later."

Because of the inherent danger in their operations and location, Tornay trained alongside the U.S. special operations forces. They called this "general military training," but there was nothing general about it, in a location where danger was closer than ever.

The major said they trained on the firing range and conducted buddy drills, involving techniques like tandem shoot-on-contact, shoot and move drills, and transition drills, requiring a transition from one weapons system to another.

"Whether on base or in convoys, which was fairly often, this training kept everyone in the camp in concert with what they needed to do to stay safe and secure in their area," Tornay said.

They also drilled on radio operations and how to maneuver in heavily armored vehicles. All the combat skills training stood him in good stead.

"We had a vehicle break down on a convoy," Tornay said. "That was one of the most intense situations of my tour, because of the number of people in the convoy, and the fact that about half were unarmed, like interpreters and contractors."

The unique training, the chance to work alongside his brother and sister services, mentoring the Afghan special operations forces, helping a country rebuild itself after the ravages of more than two decades of war - these were the rewards for Tornay, and reasons he called it the "dream deployment" with the "dream team."

Not the least of his rewards was being able to help some local Afghan women and children who regularly visited a nearby clinic set up for them.

Not only did some of the NCOs in his camp get supplies for the clinic, but when the major told his wife, Robyn, about the clinic, she sprang into action. An administrator at Woodland Community College, Woodland, Calif., she worked with her college's sociology club and shipped 400 pounds of supplies and toys to the clinic.

"They appreciated all of the items provided and seeing the children with a new stuffed animal or school supplies made for better days," he said.

Working with the Afghans on a daily basis, knowing what he was doing every day was affecting their decisions, their future and their ability to succeed, leaves the major with peace of mind that his mission was accomplished. The friendships he forged continue on.

"I still get emails from there, including my interpreter," he said. "I know they want to continue the dialogue with us."

Tornay feels the Afghans are hopeful for their future. "They are appreciative of everything we are doing for them," he said.