U.S. Air Force teaches first command and control course in Bulgaria

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Preston Cherry
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SOFIA, Bulgaria --  Members from the 337th Air Control Squadron, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, and 435th Contingency Response Support Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, are teaching and overseeing the first Bulgarian command and control training course in Sofia, Bulgaria, from May 28 to June 8.

The two week course is taught in preparation for next month’s Thracian Eagle exercise, which aims to improve the readiness of Bulgarian and Romanian air force personnel and improve interoperability within an exercise environment.

“We’re here to help the Bulgarian and Romanian command and control agencies learn a little bit more from us on the NATO standard,” said Capt. Ben Norman, 337th Air Control Squadron air battle manager instructor. “Not only does it improve them and their command and control capability, but it also helps out the whole NATO allied nation by them taking the knowledge learned here to network and teach others in Eastern Europe.”

The course includes tactics for vectoring aircraft to and from approach control surfaces, radar intercept techniques and procedures, and overall air operations center and air battle management integration.
This training is part of a wider multi-lateral engagement in Bulgaria and supports Operation Atlantic Resolve, a demonstration to the collective security of Europe and continued commitment to peace and stability in the region.

“I think that the information we have received so far is just the beginning of this partnership,” said Maj. Galin Rogashki, Bulgarian air force command, control and surveillance. Rogashki finds these courses beneficial and hopes for further opportunities in the future.