185th ARW, 442nd support NATO ally

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Melissa Sterling
  • 442d Fighter Wing
Ämari Air Base, Estonia --  The A-10s will be participating in a flying training deployment with the Estonian air force as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

A USAF KC-135 Stratotanker from the 185th Air Refueling Wing, Iowa Air National Guard, and approximately 230 USAF support personnel from bases across the U.S. and Europe are also at Ämari to support the forward training deployment.

"It's important for Guardsmen, Reservists and active-duty members to work together so when we need to deploy we're ready to send Airmen anywhere," said Col. Gregory Eckfeld, 442nd FW vice commander and troop commander of this movement.

The two-week exercise will serve to enhance mutual capabilities of the United States and Estonia while working alongside other NATO Allies and partner nations on regional security and interoperability.

"Our fighters were here last year," said Eckfeld. "We are committed to building and retaining our relationship with our NATO allies."

The A-10s will further train with British Royal Air Force as well as with Estonian, Lithuanian, and Latvian joint terminal attack controllers at the nearby Tapa Range.

Additionally, medical professionals with the 442nd Medical Squadron and firefighters with the 442nd Civil Engineering Squadron will be participating in familiarization and integration training with Estonia and British forces respectively. 

This FTD is an example of total force integration with active duty, guard and reserve Airmen coming together to provide critical support throughout the USAFE-AFAFRICA areas of operation by deploying together and interacting with a variety of nations.

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