Courtesy Photo | The German Federal Minister of Defence, Thomas de Maiziere, poses for a photo with the...... read more read more
GEILENKIRCHEN NATO AIR BASE, Germany - The German Federal Minister of Defence, Thomas de Maizière, visited the E-3A Component Aug. 7, 2013, at Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base.
The minister was accompanied by the Force Commander, Maj. Gen. Jochen Both, the Component Commander, Maj. Gen. Andrew M. Mueller, and the Component’s Chief of Staff, Col. Werner Nemetschek.
Upon arrival at the base, the minister visited the Component headquarters and signed the base’s guestbook. From there, Minister De Maiziere headed to the flightline for a meet and greet with mayors and other city officials from the surrounding area. The minister’s tour ended with a flight on the “most modern AWACS in the world.”
While the focus was on the base’s current personnel and equipment, Minister De Maiziere took the opportunity to increase his understanding of the E-3A Component and the complex mission it accomplishes on a daily basis. As NATO's first integrated, multinational flying unit, the Component is responsible for providing airborne surveillance, command, control and communication to NATO commanders around the globe.
During his visit to the air base, the minister assured base personnel that “the existence of the E-3A Component and NATO AWACS is secure until at least 2025.”
| Date Taken: | 08.08.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 08.08.2013 10:48 |
| Story ID: | 111571 |
| Location: | GEILENKIRCHEN NATO AIR BASE, NORDRHEIN-WESTFALEN, DE |
| Web Views: | 373 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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