Photo By Tech. Sgt. Michelle Alvarez | Joint terminal attack controllers (JTAC) from the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) conduct...... read more read more
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On June 4, 2018, the Colorado Air National Guard,140th Wing, Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, brought four F-16 Fighting Falcons and approximately 40 support personnel to participate in Adriatic Strike 2018, a 7-day, biannual training exercise to enhance interoperability training and enhance joint readiness capabilities among NATO allies and partners.
This is the first time the COANG F-16s have been able to train within the borders of Slovenia, a Colorado State Partnership Program country.
An additional 21 NATO and Partnership for Peace countries with a combined 700 participants demonstrated their commitment to strengthening NATO relationships while maintaining peace in Europe with their active participation in AS18 as well.
During the exercise, JTAC training was conducted at six different locations around Slovenia. At the main Slovenian Armed Forces training range in Postonja; aircrafts, tanks and guns provided fire support for training while the wider surroundings of Korosica, Primozev pri Kocevju and the municipalities of Celje, Crnomelj and Trbovlje provided simulated air support.
Slovenian Armed Forces Col. Bojan Brocelj, commander of the 15th Wing Command, said “This is a huge challenge because Slovenia is a small country and we have only the 15th Wing to organize an exercise on this level and with so many different countries participating in so many different ways but we are honored to continue to be the host. It gives us a great opportunity to compare what we are doing with other NATO countries and to both share with them and also learn from them.”
This deployment further strengthens the alliance and interoperability of NATO allies and partner air forces, in addition to reassuring European allies of the ongoing commitment to peace and regional security.
“This training is primarily for the JTACs but the smaller size of the range and the varying terrain makes it great for the pilots as well and really simulates possible real-world scenarios they could face” said SAF Lt. Col. Ales Ogrinc, flight safety officer, 15th Wing Command.
“When we are talking about being interoperable we must make it more than just a word. We will all fight together, we must know each other” said SAF Staff Sgt, Urban Cretnik, urban warfare ground commander, JTAC 72nd brigade, highlighting both the benefits and importance of AS18.
Multinational exercises such as this ensure the NATO alliance is engaged, postured and ready with credible force to assure, deter and defend in an increasingly complex security environment, while always maintaining an emphasis on peaceful resolution.
| Date Taken: | 06.08.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 06.09.2018 05:29 |
| Story ID: | 280282 |
| Location: | CERKLJE OB KRKI AIR BASE, SI |
| Web Views: | 304 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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