Photo By Spc. Travis Terreo | Graduates of the Senior Operations Planner and Air Defense Liaison programs pose for a...... read more read more
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AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar -- The 19-nations, which make up the anti-Da’esh air-Coalition, are committed to employing airpower to promote security and stability throughout the U.S. Air Forces Central Command area of operations while degrading and defeating violent extremists.
For coalitions such as these to operate efficiently there must be a shared foundation in training and operations. The AFCENT Air Defense Liaison Officer and Senior Operations Planner programs ensure Coalition partners from the Gulf Cooperation Council receive the necessary training to successfully defend the region together.
“These kinds of opportunities help us to be more interoperable within the region in how we operate and execute the mission,” said Lt. Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., AFCENT and Combined Forces Air Component Commander, when speaking to the graduates of the most recent iteration of students. “These courses allow us to work closer with our GCC allies to improve air power and air defense capabilities within the region and Coalition.”
Brown recently presented graduation certificates to course participants from Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during a graduation ceremony at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.
The Air Defense Liaison Program is a six week course, whereas the Senior Operations Planner Program is a two week course. Both courses, which are always scheduled to end simultaneously, feature traditional academic instruction, orientation and simulation, and practical exercise portions. The practical exercise portion, known as Arabian Gulf Shield, allows course participants to put their newfound knowledge to use.
“The intent of these programs is to expose officers from Gulf Cooperation Council countries to academics, practical exercises and simulations which will prepare them to effectively operate as a Liaison Officer or planner in a Combined Air Operations Center,” said Lt. Joshua Skoglund, AFCENT Security Cooperations Deputy Coalition Coordinator. “They walk away with a better understanding of air and missile defense, as well as how each service and country contributes to the defense of the gulf region.”
Participants travel from their home nations to Al Udeid Air Base to participate in the courses and gain a better understanding of how the 19-nation, anti-Da’esh Coalition operates.
“This has been a valuable opportunity for my colleagues and myself,” said UAE Air Force Maj. Abdulsalam Al-Reesi , a participant in the Air Defense Liaison Program. “We got to see how the Coalition plans and executes air operations and sorties. That will be very helpful in planning future operations when we return home.”
The Coalition, NATO and GCC countries all execute these processes differently, explained Omani Lt. Col. Said Al-Hajri, who participated in the Senior Operations Planner Program. He went on to say the course goes deeper and mixes all of those methods into one process that everyone can understand and execute.
The courses also help the participants to interact more efficiently within a CAOC’s command structure.
“The course and exercise help us to develop knowledge that allows officers to understand the commander’s intent and priorities,” said UAE Air Force Lt. Col. Jassen Naqbi, a participant in the Senior Operations Planner Program. “Once that understanding occurs, the processes and skills learned here allow us to effectively use air power in a way that supports that.”
In addition to the skill, processes, and knowledge the participants gain, they leave with at least one other benefit.
“The participants create relationships here that will extend beyond this class,” said French Armee de l’Air Lt. Col. Eric Konietzko, the course director. “These courses show everyone how to work together and build the confidence needed for us to mutually rely on one another to deal with regional crises.”
| Date Taken: | 05.24.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 05.28.2016 06:26 |
| Story ID: | 199368 |
| Location: | AL UDEID AIR BASE, QA |
| Hometown: | AL UDEID AIR BASE, QA |
| Web Views: | 90 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Building Partner Capacity: The Power of Shared Knowledge, by SPC Travis Terreo, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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