US Air Force, Pacific partners hone tactical flying skills, enhance interoperability [Image 17 of 23]

OHAKEA, NEW ZEALAND

11.09.2013

Photo by Senior Master Sgt. Denise Johnson 

Pacific Air Forces

(Left to right) Royal New Zealand Air Force Flight Lt. Kyle Newman, the Base Operations commander, at RNZAF Base Ohakea, New Zealand, greets U.S. Air Force Capt. Gabriel Wetlesen and RNZAF Flight Lt. Tim Pevreal as the two exit the hangar en route to a C-17 Globemaster III for an airlift mission in support of Exercise Kiwi Flag Nov. 9. Wetlesen is assigned to the 517th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron for the duration of the three-week exercise. He is the 517th Readiness Flight commander at his home station, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, and is also a certified instructor pilot, a skill he shares with Pevreal. Pevreal is currently assigned to the RNZAF Central Flying School where he is earning his instructor-pilot certification. The aspiring instructor, who assumed liaison officer duties on board the C-17 for Wetlesen's mission, said he expected the flight to be mutually beneficial as he geared up for the sortie. Kiwi Flag is a multilateral RNZAF-sponsored tactical airlift exercise conducted in New Zealand. Air assets from U.S. Air Force, RNZAF, Royal Australian Air Force, Republic of Singapore Air Force, and French Armed Forces of New Caledonia are participating. Air operations will be conducted out of RNZAF Base Ohakea, New Zealand. KF provides air support to Exercise Southern Katipo, New Zealand Defence Force's largest multilateral joint force amphibious exercise with eight other nations participating: United States Army and Marines, Australia, Canada, France, Malaysia, Singapore, Papua New Guinea and Tonga. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Master Sgt. Denise Johnson/Released)

• Date Taken: 11.09.2013
• Date Posted: 11.23.2013 16:45
• Photo ID: 1059544
• VIRIN: 131109-F-FB147-040
• Resolution: 3216x2136
• Size: 491.55 KB
• Location: OHAKEA, NZ