Cooperative Key 05 kicks off

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chance Babin
  • 926th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
PLOVDIV, Bulgaria (AFPN) --  More than 140 Airmen have joined servicemembers from 14 NATO and seven partner nations to participate in Cooperative Key 05, a NATO Air Force exercise.

The exercise began Aug. 24 and runs through Sept. 5, with live flying taking place Aug. 27 through Sept. 4.

The multinational exercise is designed to enhance interoperability of NATO and partner nation air forces through cooperation and familiarization of the organization's procedures.

Cooperative Key, first conducted in 1996, is designed as a combination air exercise, command post and live exercise. Allied Component Command headquarters Izmir is conducting the exercise.

"This exercise affords us a great opportunity to practice peace support operations in a combined scenario," said Lt. Col. Jim Fike, NATO medical exercise director and 401st Expeditionary Medical Squadron commander. “It’s a chance for our people, no matter what their rank or specialty, to work with their counterparts from other nations and gain invaluable experience while bolstering our NATO capabilities.

“In any exercise you get unit and individual training, but on a bigger scale is the ability to exercise in a larger coalition environment,” Colonel Fike said. “It’s a chance for operators to find out things that are and aren’t compatible.”

The exercise primarily takes place at two air bases in the central region of Bulgaria -- Graf Ignatievo and Krumovo. The scenario, involving about 1,650 servicemembers and more than 60 aircraft, focuses on an ongoing mandated NATO peace support operation. Two fictional former warring factions are in an unstable peace. A NATO-led peace support operation with partner nation participation is in place to enforce the peace and provide humanitarian assistance.

Besides to the 21 participating nations, nine other nations will act as observers. For several of the nations, this is their first time participating in this exercise since becoming members of NATO.

“Bulgaria has the honor for the third time to (hold) the international exercise Cooperative Key. This is a clear expression for us of the successful integration processes in the international security system,” said Bulgarian air force Maj. Gen. Simeon Simeonov, Bulgarian air force headquarters chief of staff. “The exercise is a high responsibility for us being a full NATO member. Such exercises are very useful for everyone and they are a step forward to close relations and friendship among our countries.”

For the 60 U.S. Air Force medics participating, comprising reservists, guardsman and active-duty forces, this exercise gives them a wide array of training opportunities.

“We do a lot of bilateral or multilateral exercises, with one or two other nations, but here we get the most bang for the buck by getting exposure, not only from a medical but operational aspects,” said Col. Chris Kleinsmith, chief of occupational medicine from the 75th Medical Group at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. “In a four- or five-day period you may get to (train) on six or seven different aircraft from other nations, so you take home a boatload rather than a bag load.”

For Colonel Fike, the cultural experience gained is invaluable to the Airman here.

“We are going to give 60 medics a chance to work in a multinational environment to see that there are other ways to do things. We’re opening everyone’s eyes,” Colonel Fike said. “It helps develop a level of cultural awareness that you don’t develop as much in a hospital back home.”