Courtesy Photo | Navy pilot Lt. Abram Stroot, left, receives the Spanish Air Force's "Safety of Flight"...... read more read more
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ZARAGOZA, Spain — Navy pilot Lt. Abram Stroot received the Spanish Air Force's Safety of Flight trophy for his work during the Navy's Pilot Exchange Program, June 26.
"What Lieutenant Stroot has been awarded is without precedence, as he is the first foreign exchange pilot to earn the prestigious Safety of Flight trophy from the Spanish Air Force," said Col. F. Fernández de Bobadilla Hastings, SAF commander, Air Wing 15, Zaragoza Air Base. "Not only is this a great honor for Lieutenant Stroot and the U.S. Navy, but it also clearly demonstrates the enormous value of the Pilot Exchange Program."
Stroot echoed the comments of Hastings, adding that his experience gained while serving with the SAF benefited him not only as a pilot but also as an officer too.
"Flying with the Spanish Air Force has been a great experience, and I've enjoyed every minute of it," said Stroot. "It has helped me to be more open-minded when it comes to executing similar missions, and has also helped me to grow as an officer professionally. I've gained a great deal of personal contacts within the Spanish Air Force and have been able to see how at least one of the NATO countries executes their operations."
As a PEP F/A-18 Hornet training officer with the SAF on Spain's Zaragoza Air Base, Stroot conducted daily flight simulator missions for pilots with and without previous F/A-18 experience. He was also responsible for related training issues such as curriculum updates, briefing guide updates and additional training course developments. Uniquely challenging, he conducted all his training in the Spanish language, a requirement to fulfill the SAF's operational needs.
"This job is the first time I've instructed pilots within the military," said Stroot. "It can be challenging because all of the instruction and tactical radio calls are done in Spanish. Despite the challenges, however, I believe this has helped me to clearly think through the exact mechanics of the Spanish tactics and be able to guide the students throughout the maneuver in their native language."
Stroot said he highly recommends the PEP program to others because of the professional development and operational awareness received when directly working with another NATO country. PEP grew out of a pilot exchange program started after World War II between the U.S. and U.K. It now involves NATO and allied countries, ever enhancing interoperability between partner nations and improving operational readiness.
"It is evident that these partnerships are key to both sides," said Stroot. "The military relies on information to execute its mission. Here at PEP, the pilots are able to create unbreakable points of contact and learn about their host country's capabilities, motivations and operations. This knowledge is key when we execute operations with any given country, as this partnership can now play off each others strengths to create a more capable, unified NATO force."
Stroot began flying operationally with the SAF's Air Wing 15 in October of 2006 and will soon depart Zaragoza Air Base for a return to the U.S. Navy fleet.
| Date Taken: | 06.26.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 06.29.2009 12:05 |
| Story ID: | 35740 |
| Location: | ZARAGOZA, US |
| Web Views: | 358 |
| Downloads: | 181 |
This work, Navy Pilot First Foreign Service member to Earn Spanish Air Force Award, by CPO David Holmes, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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