615th Airmen make connection with Hondurans

Published Oct. 19, 2011
By Tech. Sgt. Aaron Carrillo and Master Sgt. Michael Raffa
571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Working together and exchanging ideas to build lasting partnerships ... these are the strategic goals of 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron. It's one of two squadrons charged with executing Air Mobility Command's building partner capacity mission.

The BPC mission is primarily focused on the training, advising and assisting of partner nations in the development of their air mobility system. The 571st MSAS, part of the 615th Contingency Response Wing based here is manned and equipped to work side-by-side with a partner nation's military personnel to help develop their command and control, airfield operations and communication competencies. Lt. Col. Joseph Sanchez, the unit's commander, sums up the mission in a saying he uses frequently, "We are tactical actors on a strategic stage."

The 571st MSAS missions will take place in the 12th Air Force area of responsibility of Latin America and the Caribbean. The MSAS mission set is adding to the robust engagement schedule Air Forces Southern maintains in the region. MSAS leadership works closely with AFSOUTH planners to ensure the MSAS missions achieve the largest impact on training and on partner nation capacity building. Such is the case with the 571st MSAS' inaugural mission in Honduras, which brought the team's Airmen together with their Honduran counterparts for their first planning conference and exchange of ideas in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

During the conference, the MSAS members introduced themselves and their capabilities to embassy officials, as well as senior leaders of the Honduran Air Force. They discussed future assistance with fuels management, communications, helicopter maintenance, air traffic control, flight safety programs and airbase defense programs, of the more than 25 Air Force specialties provided by the MSAS.

From the moment the MSAS team stepped foot on the ground they were reminded of the benefits of the unit's previous language and cultural training. All business, including friendly conversations, was conducted entirely in Spanish. According to MSAS officials, language comprehension was not only important for routine communication, but also became the "key" to opening the door with the partner nation and establishing credibility.

"It wasn't pretty, but the fact that each team member put forth the effort was greatly appreciated by all of the Honduran Air Force members in attendance," Sanchez said.

The mission began with an assessment of communications, navigation and engine facilities at the Honduran airbase. Additionally, members of the Honduran Air Force officials expressed interest in partnering with MSAS Airmen on an air traffic control upgrade program, to include the development of a centralized technical schoolhouse. Honduran airmen were also eager to work with the MSAS' Survival Evasion Resistance Escape personnel on possible improvements to their own aircrew survival programs. Overall, MSAS leadership, based on both their own experiences as well as the feedback of their Honduran counterparts considered the first mission a big success.

"The most important part of the experience was the opportunity to establish a relationship ... a relationship that can be built upon in the future to help strengthen our partner nation's capabilities," Sanchez said.