Michigan Air National Guard supports Saber Strike 2015

Photo By Capt. Anthony Lesterson | A Maryland Air National Guard A-10 Thunderbolt II peels off shortly after being refueled by Master Sgt. Joseph LaPinta, 171st Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, in a Michigan Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotanker during Saber Strike 2015. Exercise Saber Strike 2015 has brought 14 ally and partner nations together to increase interoperability between military forces. The Michigan National Guard is a part of a Department of Defense sponsored State Partnership Program between Michigan and the Latvian government, which began in 1993. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Capt. Anthony J. Lesterson)  

RIGA, LATVIA

06.13.2015

Story by Tech. Sgt. Daniel Heaton 

127th Wing

RIGA, Latvia - KC-135 Stratotankers and about two dozen Airmen from the Michigan Air National Guard are in Latvia, providing support to Saber Strike 2015, a 13-nation exercise taking place there and in neighboring nations June 8-19. The Michigan Airmen are among 6,000 military personnel participating in the U.S. Army Europe-led exercise.

Saber Strike is a U.S Army Europe-led cooperative training exercise conducted annually since 2010. The aim of the exercise is to improve the cooperation and capabilities of the participating nations for future contingency operations. This year's exercise objectives facilitate cooperation among Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The exercise, which is taking place in Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Poland, also builds on the more than 20-year relationship the Michigan National Guard has enjoyed with Latvia in the State Partnership for Peace program. The Michigan National Guard and Latvian forces routinely train together and conduct various exchange programs for military personnel.

During Saber Strike, the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard plays a critical role by providing aerial refueling, aerial port support capabilities, joint tactical air control, personnel and equipment airlift, and close air support to U.S. and partner nation ground forces while demonstrating air deployment of forces and equipment.

"Saber Strike is a great opportunity to showcase and foster our interoperability between ally and partner nations," said Gen. Frank Gorenc, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa commander. "Combined training and theater security cooperation engagements with our allies and partners demonstrate that we share a commitment to promoting a Europe that is whole, free and at peace."

U.S. Air Force capabilities in the exercise include KC-135 Stratotankers from the 127th Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan, the Pennsylvania Air National Guard and the U.S. Air Force Reserves out of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina; F-16 Fighting Falcons from the South Carolina Air National Guard; A-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the Maryland Air National Guard; B-52 Stratofortresses from Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota; and C-130J Super Hercules from Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Additional support is provided by the 435th Contingency Response Group and the 435th Air-Ground Operations Wing from Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

"Maintaining a forward, ready presence in Europe is critical to assuring our allies and to deter real and potential adversaries," said Gorenc. "We are only able to maintain this global presence through total force cooperation with our National Guard and Air Force Reserve partners."

• Date Taken: 06.13.2015
• Date Posted: 06.29.2015 09:53
• Story ID: 168487
• Location: RIGA, LV