USAFE commander looks East, identifies capabilities and challenges

  • Published
  • By Maj. Krista Carlos
  • U.S. Air Forces in Europe Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  In support of U.S. Air Forces in Europe's continued focus on South and East, Gen. Tom Hobbins, USAFE commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Gary Coleman, USAFE command chief, visited with defense and air force leaders in Bulgaria and Georgia May 14-16 to discuss air force capabilities, modernization and future goals.

During their visit to Bulgaria, the USAFE leaders met with the U.S. Embassy's country team, the Chief of Air Force Headquarters, the Chief of General Staff and the Deputy Minister of Defense, to discuss Bulgaria's goals, upcoming exercises, as well as being a new NATO nation.

"The highlight of my trip to Bulgaria was the overwhelming feeling of support and cooperation I had meeting with Lt. Gen. Simeonov (Chief of Air Force Headquarters)," said General Hobbins. "I really felt he was behind all the things that NATO stands for and very enthusiastic about USAFE's support in exercises, training and theater security cooperation efforts."

As one of NATO's newest nations, Bulgaria appeared very interested in the future of multi-role fighters for their air force, as well as modernization and transformation. In Georgia, however, the future vision of their air force was a little less clear.

"Georgia is aware of its need to rid itself of old Russian equipment and purchase new items, but they're also aware they don't have the money to do so and would like to achieve interim steps along the way to a brighter future," said General Hobbins. "That brighter future and vision for what the Georgian Air Force can be has not been defined, but we will help solve that problem and provide expert mobile teams that will fulfill the GAF Air Chief's request for a follow-up from this trip."

On their final visit, the general and chief stopped through the Krtsanisi Training Area near Tbilisi, Georgia, and visited with members of the 1st Combat Communications Squadron from Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Their deployed flight commander described their deployed mission to their visitors.

"At the KTA, we are providing command and control communications for the tactical operations center, as well as radio communications for infantry," said 1st Lieutenant Byron Buzan, 1st CBCS deployed commander. "We also provide logistics personnel for the Army and Navy where they are training the Georgian army on tactical maneuvers for their experiences in Iraq."

"My favorite part here is that it's more of a sustainment-type operation rather than a normal combat communication one where you set up quickly and then pull out," said Lt. Buzan. "Here we had to set up and sustain our communications as well as make improvements to all the facilities, so it's very unique to me."

The general concluded the trip with a summery of his experiences.

"Overall, my impression of the trip was that both countries are very staunch allies in the war on terror," he said. "Both countries are contributing forces to Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo, and their support is based on their own capabilities. Even though Bulgaria and Georgia are not fully capable in some aviation areas, they want to participate in as large a way as possible, which is very commendable."