Support personnel, F-16s enhance partnership with Poland

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Erin Babis
  • U.S. Air Forces in Europe Public Affairs
LASK AIR BASE, Poland (AFNS) --  About 350 personnel are supporting 20 F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base, Italy, and the 138th Fighter Wing at Tulsa Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma, as part of bilateral flying training with the Polish Air Force.

The Aviation Detachment 16-3 training is aimed to improve familiarization of operational and logistical processes, to maintain joint readiness, and build interoperability capabilities.

Lt. Col. Jason Repak, the commander of Detachment 1, 52nd Operations Group, said, “Aviation Detachment 16-3 is a great opportunity for our (deployed) aircrews to hone their operational skills from a forward operating location.”

He explained the importance of the unit’s forward presence and highlighted how hosting rotational training strengthens the U.S. and Polish alliance.

"The AvDet purpose is to maintain a small footprint in a key region at minimal cost with strategic impacts," he said. "Our enduring presence allows the U.S. to build upon a strong relationship with our Polish allies. The AvDet strengthens this relationship by fostering an environment for unique bilateral training opportunities while bolstering regional security as the sole long-term (U.S. Air Force) unit presence in Eastern Europe."

The aviation detachment is a 10-person unit from the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem AB, Germany, stationed in Poland to support quarterly rotations of flying missions. This recurring training is conducted in coordination with the government of Poland to bolster interoperability between nations.

The current enduring presence at Lask AB and the detachment’s presence in Poland make it possible to host multiple allied air force elements and serve as a regional hub for air training and multinational exercises.

"Every rotation brings its own unique set of opportunities to explore new ways to train together and to increase our respective capabilities," Repak explained. "This particular rotation involves a fairly complex allocation of forces to four strategically important exercises."

While in Poland as part of quarterly training for AvDet 16-3, the participating units will also support the concurrent exercises Baltic Operations 2016, Saber Strike 2016, Swift Response 2016 and Anakonda 2016.

"Living and working with the Polish every day reinforces bilateral ties while strengthening relationships and interoperability between U.S., Poland and NATO," Repak said. "Periodic rotational forces are a means to bolster this relationship by creating opportunities to train together and share best practices between U.S. and Polish operators, maintenance and support personnel."