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Allied aircrews train for action

by 1st Lt. Erin Tindell

More than 300 German and American aircrews are expanding their scope of modern coalition warfare during a two-week training exercise that concludes June 30. The exercise is the final stage of training for weapons instructors with the German Air Force Flying Training Center, or GAF-TC, stationed at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.

As future instructors for the German Tornado Interdiction Strike aircraft, students must demonstrate and apply their skills in an integrated fighting scenario, said Capt. Danny Lee, 366th Fighter Wing plans and programs.

"There will be five training missions with a day of planning before each one," said Maj. Matthias Kries, the exercise manager for the German air force. "We'll incorporate normal flying missions at Mountain Home with our training missions, resulting in a mutually beneficial training program."

Major Kries said the exercise is an opportunity to train with allied air forces for today's war on terrorism.

"We try to orient our training with the Americans so we can talk the same language when it's time to go to war," Major Kries said. "This way, we won't lose touch with modern aerial warfare."

Several units are participating in the exercise. They include F-15E Strike Eagles and F-16 Fighting Falcons from here; a B-1 Lancer from Ellsworth AFB, S.D.; an A-10 Thunderbolt II from Davis Monthan AFB, Ariz.; four F-117 Nighthawks from Holloman AFB; six Navy EA-6B Prowlers from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.; and three tanker aircraft from various Air Force bases. Army National Guard units are also providing helicopter support for the training missions.

The exercise was traditionally conducted jointly with the U.S. Air Force Weapons School at Nellis AFB, Nev., until 2004 when the host squadron for the GAF-TC inactivated.

"Mountain Home was chosen as a premier location to host the German air force because of its proven success in providing world-class ranges for fighter training," Captain Lee said.

Members from the training center were also here in October for the first German air force training exercise since 2004. Major Kries said the German air force hopes to continue holding the exercise here in the future and to eventually incorporate F-4 Phantoms into the training.

The GAF-TC has been a guest of the Air Force since 1996 at Holloman AFB. German pilots learn the F-4 Phantom and Tornado interdiction strike weapon systems.

Source: U.S. Air Force