News>Thracian Spring 2011: preserving U.S., Bulgarian partnerships
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Bulgarian Air Force paratroopers land at the drop zone after a successful static line jump from a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules in support of Thracian Spring 2011, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, April 28, 2011. Thracian Spring 2011 is a two week on-site training designed to build partnerships between the U.S. and Bulgarian Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Desiree W. Esposito)
Bulgarian Air Force paratroopers prepare for their static line jump from a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules in support of Thracian Spring 2011, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, April 29, 2011. Thracian Spring 2011 is a two week on-site training designed to build partnerships between the U.S. and Bulgarian Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Desiree W. Esposito)
Bulgarian Air Force paratroopers prepare for their static line jump from a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules in support of Thracian Spring 2011, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, April 29, 2011. Thracian Spring 2011 is a two week on-site training designed to build partnerships between the U.S. and Bulgarian Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Desiree W. Esposito)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Nickolas Hurst, 435th Security Forces Squadron airborne coordinator, performs a jump master personnel inspection on Maj. Jason Medsger, 435th SFS commander, during Thracian Spring 2011, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, April 29, 2011. Thracian Spring 2011 is a two week on-site training designed to build partnerships between the U.S. and Bulgarian Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Desiree W. Esposito)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Joseph Klimaski, secures a static line to Staff Sgt. Nickolas Hurst's parachute, both from the 435th Security Forces Squadron, during Thracian Spring 2011, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, April 29, 2011. Thracian Spring 2011 is a two week on-site training designed to build partnerships between the U.S. and Bulgarian Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Desiree W. Esposito)
U.S. Air Force Maj. Michael Morales, 37th Airlift Squadron C-130J Super Hercules pilot, flys U.S. and Bulgarian Air Force paratroopers to the drop zone during a joint static line jump in support of Thracian Spring 2011, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, April 29, 2011. Thracian Spring 2011 is a two week on-site training designed to build partnerships between the U.S. and Bulgarian Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Desiree W. Esposito)
Bulgarian Air Force paratroopers exit a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules under the direction of U.S. Air Force 435th Security Forces Squadron paratroopers, during a joint static line jump in support of Thracian Spring 2011, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, April 29, 2011. Thracian Spring 2011 is a two week on-site training designed to build partnerships between the U.S. and Bulgarian Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Desiree W. Esposito)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Stephen Baker, 435th Security Forces Squadron airborne coordinator, looks out of a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules troop door in preparation for a joint static line jump in support of Thracian Spring 2011, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, April 29, 2011. Thracian Spring 2011 is a two week on-site training designed to build partnerships between the U.S. and Bulgarian Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Desiree W. Esposito)
Bulgarian Air Force paratroopers exit a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules under the direction of U.S. Air Force Staff Sgts. Stephen Baker and Nickolas Hurst from the 435th Security Forces Squadron, during a joint static line jump in support of Thracian Spring 2011, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, April 29, 2011. Thracian Spring 2011 is a two week on-site training designed to build partnerships between the U.S. and Bulgarian Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Desiree W. Esposito)
Bulgarian Air Force paratroopers pose for a photo at the drop zone near Plovdiv Airport, after a successful static line jump from a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules in support of Thracian Spring 2011, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, April 29, 2011. Thracian Spring 2011 is a two week on-site training designed to build partnerships between the U.S. and Bulgarian Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Desiree W. Esposito)
U.S. Air Force 435th Security Forces Squadron members usher in more than 50 Bulgarian Air Force paratroopers into a C-130J Super Hercules in support of Thracian Spring 2011, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, April 29, 2011. Thracian Spring 2011 is a two week on-site training designed to build partnerships between the U.S. and Bulgarian Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Desiree W. Esposito)
A Bulgarian paratrooper prepares for his static line jump from a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules in support of Thracian Spring 2011, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, April 29, 2011. Thracian Spring 2011 is a two week on-site training designed to build partnerships between the U.S. and Bulgarian Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Desiree W. Esposito)
U.S. Air Force 435th Security Forces Squadron paratroopers debrief after a successful joint static line jump during Thracian Spring 2011, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, April 29, 2011. Thracian Spring 2011 is a two week on-site training designed to build partnerships between the U.S. and Bulgarian Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Desiree W. Esposito)
U.S. Air Force Maj. Jason Medsger, 435th Security Forces Squadron commander, performs a jump master personnel inspection on Staff Sgt. Myron Austin, 435th SFS paratrooper, during Thracian Spring 2011, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, April 29, 2011. Thracian Spring 2011 is a two week on-site training designed to build partnerships between the U.S. and Bulgarian Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Desiree W. Esposito)
U.S. and Bulgarian Air Forces team up during Thracian Spring 2011, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, April 29, 2011. Thracian Spring 2011 is a two week on-site training designed to build partnerships between the U.S. and Bulgarian Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Desiree W. Esposito)
Bulgarian Air Force paratroopers prepare to load a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules for a static line jump in support of Thracian Spring 2011, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, April 28, 2011. Thracian Spring 2011 is a two week on-site training designed to build partnerships between the U.S. and Bulgarian Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Desiree W. Esposito)
by Airman 1st Class Desiree W. Esposito
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
5/4/2011 - PLOVDIV, Bulgaria -- Airmen from Team Ramstein's 86th Airlift Wing and 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, as well as U.S. Army jumpmasters teamed with Bulgarian armed forces to conduct Exercise Thracian Spring 2011 April 26 to May 6 here.
The bilateral training exercise brought U.S. and Bulgarian military forces together to build upon and strengthen the bonds currently shared between the two countries, while continuing to improve interoperability as Bulgaria continues to progress as a new partner nation in NATO.
"Sharing knowledge and activities will strengthen the U.S. and Bulgarian partnership for future operations," said Capt. John Holland, 37th Airlift Squadron pilot and mission commander.
More than 90 Airmen and Soldiers including crew chiefs, jumpmasters, parachute riggers, loadmasters, aerial porters and pilots, loaded two C-130J Super Hercules for the two-week event.
While meeting their own training requirements, jumpmasters from the 435th Contingency Response Group and the Army's 5th Quartermaster Company also facilitated jumps for more than 400 Bulgarian paratroopers.
The training assisted with nine static line and HALO (high altitude, low opening) jumps, paratroopers from the 68th Bulgarian Special Forces Brigade were able to jump and train alongside U.S. paratroopers.
"Accomplishing nine successful static lines and HALO sorties the first week couldn't have been a better opportunity for U.S. and Bulgarian paratroopers to train and integrate," said Maj. Michael Morales, 37th AS pilot.
More than four container delivery system drops, night vision goggle training, and aerial port procedures were included in the building partnerships capacity events.
"Thracian Spring was a great experience for my comrades and I, being able to share essential aircraft skilled procedures will have a lasting effect," said Bulgarian air force Capt. Anton Dimitrov.
Training in Bulgaria also offers various benefits to aircrews who normally have to operate under Germany's noise restrictions which prohibit certain flying routes and hours.
"Tactical, low-level flying in Europe is very difficult due to the noise restriction," said Captain Holland. "Bulgaria assists in allowing us to use their airspace for low-altitude flying."
The training event also offered an opportunity to showcase the enhanced partnership to senior officials in the region. On May 2, U.S. Ambassador to Bulgaria James B. Warlick and Bulgarian Minister of Defense Anu Angelov witnessed static line personnel drops and high altitude free fall drops by the C-130Js and the C-27J and a Bulgarian helicopter demonstration of personnel recovery.
