Staff Sgt. William Chesnutt of Tuleta, stationed with Marine Aircraft Control Group 28 in Afghanistan, has become one of the first U.S. Marines in British aviation history to receive the British Certificate of Competency for air traffic control.

He and Sgt. Sean Richmond were presented certificates on Sept. 9 by British RAF Air Commodore Stuart Atha, commanding officer of the 83rd Expeditionary Air Group.

The Marines are stationed at Camp Bastion, in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan.

Upon arrival in Afghanistan, Sgt. Chesnutt was assigned as one of two Marine Corps liaison officers for the air traffic control tower manned by British controllers.

The initial role was to assist the British controllers with differences in terminology when dealing with Marine Corps pilots from Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan.

Because the British saw the value of the Marines’ training, they were given the opportunity to earn both ground and air certifications.

One of the unique differences between the two Marines and their British counterparts is experience. Between Chesnutt and Redmond, they possess more than 20 years of experience in the field of air traffic control.

“When an individual joins the British RAF as an air traffic controller, he or she is sent to a tower almost immediately to serve as an assistant,” explained Chesnutt. After about four years, the assistant is sent to school to be certified as an air traffic controller.

Things worked out differently for the two Marines. After completing recruit training and combat training, Chesnutt and Redmond were sent directly to school to become air traffic controllers. Following the school, the Marines were then sent to a fleet unit and began their job as air traffic controllers.

Chesnutt further explained that many of the British controllers work at bases that deal exclusively with either fixed wing aircraft or helicopters. A majority of Marine Corps air stations have both types of aircraft, each with specific safety rules that must be followed to ensure a safe runway.

Another difference between the services is their certifications. The British certification can only be used in the military, while the Marines can take their Federal Aviation Administration-sanctioned certification to any air traffic control tower in the United States.

Soon both Marines will be applying another role they obtained due to receiving their certificates: training new British controllers. Approximately every four months the British RAF rotates new controllers into the tower. Because of their experience and current certifications, both Marines will take on the role of instructing the incoming controllers.

Until their new counterparts arrive, the Marines will continue to help their British peers and possibly earn additional certifications in this joint combat environment.

Sgt. Chesnutt has completed three tours of duty in Iraq. He is a 2001 graduate of Pettus High School and the son of Diane Chesnutt of Tuleta and William S. Chesnutt of Mineral. He is the grandson of the late C.A. Chesnutt of Tuleta and Winnie McCarrel of Victoria.