Polish AvDet Activates

LASK AIR BASE, Poland -- Members of the 52nd Operations Group, Detachment 1, and Spangdahlem Air Base Honor Guard stand in formation during an Aviation Detachment (AV DET) activation ceremony on the flightline at Lask Air Base, Poland, Nov. 9, 2012. The AV DET will be an enduring presence with 10 Airmen, but F-16 and C-130 crews and aircraft will rotate periodically for training, where the total number of personnel could surge up to 250. The AV DET supports Poland's continued defense modernization and standardization with the U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gustavo Castillo/Released)

Polish AvDet Activates

LASK AIR BASE, Poland --The 52nd Operations Group, Detachment 1, guidon stands on the flightline during an Aviation Detachment (AV DET) activation ceremony on Lask Air Base, Poland Nov. 9, 2012. The AV DET will be an enduring presence with 10 Airmen, but F-16 and C-130 crews and aircraft will rotate periodically for training, where the total number of personnel could surge up to 250. The AV DET supports Poland's continued defense modernization and standardization with the U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gustavo Castillo/Released)

Polish AvDet Activates

LASK AIR BASE, Poland -- U.S. Air Force Col. David Lyons, left, 52nd Operations Group commander passes a guidon to Maj. Matthew Spears, 52nd OG Detachment 1 commander during an Aviation Detachment(AV DET) activation ceremony on the flightline of Lask Air Base, Poland, Nov. 9, 2012. Spears is the first commander of the AV DET in Poland, which will facilitate bilateral and eventually multinational joint training exercises while optimizing the use of Poland's ranges and airspace and enhancing interoperability of both countries' flight tactics and maneuvers . The AV DET will be an enduring presence with 10 Airmen, but F-16 and C-130 crews and aircraft will rotate periodically for training, where the total number of personnel could surge up to 250. The AV DET supports Poland's continued defense modernization and standardization with the U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gustavo Castillo/Released)

USAF activates AvDet in Poland

Published Nov. 13, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Gustavo Castillo
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

LASK AIR BASE, Poland -- A U.S. Aviation Detachment was activated here Nov. 9, 2012.

Airmen assigned to the detachment will come from across the Air Force and will be attached to the 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, under the 52nd Operations Group, Detachment 1.

The detachment will be an enduring presence with 10 Airmen, but F-16 and C-130 crews and aircraft will rotate periodically for training, where the total number of personnel could surge up to 250.

"We've put together an excellent team, and everybody's eager to begin the first rotations of aircraft, so that our Airmen have an excellent opportunity for training," said Maj. Matthew Spears, 52nd OG, Det 1 commander.

The AV DET supports Poland's continued defense modernization and standardization with the U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and enables cooperation in regional security efforts.

"Our Airmen have an excellent opportunity for training," Major Spears said. "We get to engage with one of our key allies within NATO in order to forge a more powerful partnership."

Facilitating bilateral and eventually multinational joint training exercises, the AV DET will optimize the use of Poland's ranges and airspace to enhance both countries' flight tactics and maneuvers.

The 10 Airmen who volunteered for the opportunity to set-up this first-ever detachment in Poland, have a unifying characteristic and eagerness to showcase their knowledge and skills to make the unit successful.

"I think it is truly an honor to be selected from my career field for this historical mission that we are about to embark on," said Master Sgt. Jerry Martinez, 52nd OG Det. 1 logistics manager."We are here to lay the bricks down for the future rotations to follow,"

The goal of this increased cooperation between the United States and Polish Air Forces is to strengthen interoperability as NATO allies through regular combined training exercises and military-to-military engagement.

"There are three key benefits of bringing these teams together," said Adm. James Stavridis, Supreme Allied Commander Europe and United States European Command commander. "First is sharing tactics so that we have an opportunity to learn from each other while we operate our F-16s and C-130s. Secondly, participating in the article five commitment to defend the border of the NATO alliance. Thirdly and most importantly is the people to people contact of the wonderful U.S. Airmen working with terrific Polish Airmen."

A more capable Polish ally will help us realize our shared foreign and security policy priorities within the broader NATO alliance.