US Airmen teach Romanian airmen airfield management

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kris Levasseur
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
CAMPIA TURZII, Romania (AFNS) --  Members of the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing air advisor branch provide Romanian airmen at Campia Turzii the opportunity to learn about U.S. Air Force airfield management operations March 10 to 27 during Dacian Warhawk, a two-week training mission designed to increase the interoperability between the two nations.

Unlike the U.S. Air Force, the Romanian air force does not have airmen specifically trained to manage airfield operations and maintain airfield standards.

"Throughout Dacian Warhawk, the 435th AGOW was able to accomplish several events designed to build partnerships with our Romanian allies to include airfield management, fuels management, Medical treatment and fighter pilot integration," said Maj. Justin Rex, an air advisor assigned to the 435th AGOW 435th Contingency Response Group. "In particular, the airfield management event focused on building the Romanian capacity to have dedicated airfield managers monitor and develop the airfield manager capacity from scratch."

In order to provide the Romanian airmen with a foundation for their airfield management program, Rex and his team covered a variety of information including FOD prevention, airfield driving, daily pavement evaluation and several other aspects of airfield management.

"Building this capability will set the stage to enhance the processes and procedures to maintain a fully operational airfield and enhance NATO interoperability," said Tech. Sgt. George Broom, an air advisor assigned to the 435th AGOW 435th Contingency Response Group.

The airfield management training provided the Romanian airmen with first steps toward creating a program at Campia Turzii which, if successful, could be used to develop a program for the entire Romanian air force.

"Campia Turzii will be the first base in Romania that is training and equipping personnel to handle all airfield management responsibilities," Rex said. "This event provided the baseline on which the Romanian air force can build the airfield management capability and successfully guide airfield safety and construction projects."

Though their program is still in its infancy, the value of this training has been immeasurable, according to Romanian 2nd Lt. Adam Loam, a 71st Base airman, who is training on airfield management.

"The airfield management training was very useful," Loam said. "This training helped us change our vision on how we can run our program in the future. Building our program will help us work together better.

Throughout Dacian Warhawk, airmen from both nations came together to teach each other many things, but the programs they built together will last beyond their stay and ensure future airmen accomplish many more missions.