From Flight to Fire: U.S., Royal Moroccan Air Forces partner during Exercise African Lion 15

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Eboni Reams
  • United States Air Forces in Europe
U.S. and Royal Moroccan Air Force pilots and support staff began the first full week of joint operations during Exercise African Lion, May 18, here.

The host unit 6th Base Forces Royales Air and visiting unit 480th Fighter Squadron stationed in Spangdahlem German, became affiliated with the operation and training objectives to be completed last week. Operational and support elements are intergrating for maximum cohesion.

"The first few days were  spent learning eachother's operational styles," said Staff Sgt. Daniel Harris, 52nd Operation Support Squadron weather forecaster. "Now we are ready to collaborate together, fully integrated."

The pilots are debriefed together on flight and operational tactical plans. The GPS data is linked between the U.S. and Royal Moroccan Air Force pilots to be able to review the flight paths.

"The pilots will be using new digital connection capabilties," said Col. Pierre Oury, Air Training Exercise director. "This allows them to be able to see each other on their scope."

In addition to the air training support and first responders are present at all times including maintainers, aircrew flight equipment, fire department and logistics during exercise training.

"The maintenance and logisticians involved in African Lion have been a vital asset to the mission," said Senior Master Sgt. Christohper Labbe, Air Training Exercise mission support chief. "This two week exercise is a small portion of more than 7 months of planning and partnership. Seeing the training mission be accomplished after all of the hard work the support elements put into this project is makes it all worth it."

Support elements including first responders are key players in the air training exercise and facilitate exercises of there own such as the joint hydrazine training exercise with the U.S. and Moroccan firefighters. Hydrazine is a toxic fuel needed for in-flight emergencies such as an engine failure. The joint teams worked together to execute the exercise procedures properly.
 
"Working with the our Moroccan partners on emergency operations is a great opportunity," said Master Sgt. Jordan Boyd, 52nd Fighter Wing fire chief. "They are very fast and a effiecient and their hustle and response time are great take aways from this exercise."

The partnering nations will have a closing ceremony at the end of the week and the F-16s will re-deploy with joint fighting knowledge and experience.