52nd SFS member fills Embedded Training Team position in Afghanistan Published May 12, 2011 By 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs KABUL -- A 52nd Security Forces Squadron Airman from here is currently deployed to the 866th Air Expeditionary Squadron in Kabul. Afghanistan, filling a Joint Expeditionary Tasking position to do a job normally done by the U.S. Army in an Embedded Training Team. Master Sgt. Steven Koehler, Jr., is the senior combat advisor for the Afghan National Army, Logistics Command, Security Kandak Battalion. In this position, Sergeant Koehler mentors and advises the security battalion commander, executive commander, operations officer, intelligence officer and four Company commanders. He also advised ANA leadership on various aspects of base defense to include force protection and intelligence operations. He and Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Roberts, 62nd SFS, McChord Air Force Base, Wash., have trained 575 ANA soldiers in force protection responsibilities. These 575 security soldiers are tasked with securing 10 outlying logistics bases, fuel depots and ammunition supply points. During their training, Sergeants Koehler and Roberts incorporated a quarterly professional military education program; implemented a new, practical duty schedule; acquisitioned and issued more than 360 NATO weapons; and executed quality of life and base defense upgrades valued at $450,000. However, mentoring and teaching the basics of base defense weren't the only missions Master Sgt. Koehler was part of. He also led 10 joint humanitarian aid missions at eight different villages in the Kabul area. One of these missions was to a newly constructed school. The ANA soldiers were out front during these HA missions delivering blankets, tents, clothing, and water and food so they could directly interact with the local communities to help build support for the ANA with the local populations. "[Master] Sgt. Koehler has been a great mentor for us. His great knowledge of leadership, base defense and security operations has really taught me a great deal, made me a better officer and his impact will be felt for many years to come. He has done so much for the largest security battalion in Afghanistan and the ANA. He is my friends, and I will miss him, " said ANA Col. Zarin Alizai, security battalion commander. With his deployment coming to an end, Master Sgt. Koehler is anxious to see how the ANA Security Battalion expands their footprint in Kabul or to see what the future holds for Afghanistan. "This has truly been a once in a lifetime experience and am thankful I could be part of it. I can't wait to see how far they come in the next few years. I'm very thankful my unit leadership afforded me the opportunity for this rewarding mission and happy I had a small part in Afghanistan's future," the 17-year Air Force veteran said.