U.S., Dutch pilots train together

  • Published
  • By Capt. Allen Herritage
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
GANCI AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan (AFPN) --  Boom operator Airman Charles Converse noted something different about the Dutch F-16 that slowly moved into place for a quick gas-and-go high above Afghanistan on Sept. 11. The pilot was proudly displaying the Stars and Stripes above the windscreen in his cockpit. The Dutch had not only put a flag in the aircraft; they put an American in it, too.

Maj. Beau Rogers, a U.S. exchange pilot with the Royal Netherlands air force since May, has been flying sorties out of here supporting Operation Enduring Freedom for two weeks. Stationed at Leeuwarden Air Base, one of three F-16 air bases in the Netherlands, Rogers rotates with Dutch pilots in the OEF area of responsibility.

The exchange program gives U.S. and Dutch pilots a chance to train together with tactics used in combat and then actually fly combat missions together. The two-to-three yearlong program has a Dutch counterpart who flies with a squadron in the United States. The end result is a more cohesive coalition, familiar with each other’s tactics and procedures, according to Rogers.

“These guys are true professionals,” Rogers said. “Their professionalism is equal to their ability in the air.”

Rogers, a graduate of the Air Force weapons school at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., passes on his experience in the cockpit as an instructor pilot at the European F-16 weapons school. The school is composed of air forces from Norway, Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands.

“Their weapons school is similar to ours,” Rogers said. “They go hard for six months just like we do at Nellis. They don’t have the same resources, but the training is superb.”

Rogers had a chance to see the results of this training in action in recent missions. Together with Denmark, the Netherlands provides fighter support to troops on the ground in Afghanistan. In late August, approximately 40 Taliban and al-Qaida troops were killed when forward-air controllers called for support from F-16s here.

“It’s impressive that Denmark and the Netherlands are the only ones flying F-16s in the AOR. That’s a significant contribution to the war on terror,” Rogers said.

Rogers will return to Holland soon and pass on lessons he learned here. He said his time with the Dutch air force has made him aware that America is not alone in the war on terrorism.

“A lot of people consider the war against terrorism as ‘America’s War,’ ” he said. “But when you look at the amount of resources other countries put forth, both personnel and equipment, relative to the size of an air force like that of the (Royal Netherlands air force), it says, very strongly, that they think this is a worthy endeavor. I’m proud to be part of this coalition.”