NATO, PfP allies visit Laughlin

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Peter Borys
  • 47 FTW Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Laughlin showcased its pilot training mission to a group of Air Force officers from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Partnership for Peace member countries March 8. They included: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Serbia and Switzerland.

These high-level officers first visited Randolph Air Force Base as part of a NATO training group conference to look at Air Force issues and pilot training. They later came to Laughlin to see the pilot training program firsthand.

"These individuals came to Laughlin to learn about our flying training programs, as they are the decision makers who influence their nations' flight training," said Maj. Jason Turner, 47th Flying Training Wing director of staff. "It was also an opportunity to exchange ideas and show them how we do business so they can take the best of what we do and apply it to their own situations."

According to Serbian Air Force Lt. Col. Roberto Della Croce, the visit was key to their air force's future. "For me, my country and other participants, this experience is very important because we want to incorporate your knowledge and experience in our fighter program to do interoperability with your forces and to improve our capability," said the colonel, a flight instructor and test pilot for the MiG-31 aircraft.

Asked about his visit to Laughlin, the Serbian officer said, "For me it is amazing, because you have a big capability for pilot training. That is a dream of all small countries to have something similar like you have here at Laughlin."

Colonel Della Croce said he hoped it was the start of a long relationship.

"We hope to have in the future a joint exercise," he said.

Even long-time partners found the exchange useful.

"These information exchanges are very valuable whether it be directly operational related or philosophy in teaching or command structures," said Canadian Air Force Col. Paul Goddard. "That interaction is critical to all of our countries to get an understanding and to take the lessons learned from every nation and to try and apply best practices."

"I like the number of airplanes you have here. In Canada, we have fewer T-6 aircraft and to see the number you have here is good for a pilot," the Canadian colonel joked.
 
Major Turner summed up the visit when he said, "I think they were impressed with the overall scope of our mission here. The volume of training we do here at Laughlin is on a scale unheard of in other pilot-training arenas. The scope of our operation and the quality of students that we pass through Laughlin were what we hoped to showcase to the NATO visitors."