Photo By Staff Sgt. Gracie Lee | Senegal Air Force Capt. Balla Sarr, loadmaster, maintenance officer, Senegal, watches...... read more read more
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The 818th MSAS’s mission is to support U.S. Africa Command’s combatant commander in regards to all things mission essential as well as support operations, said U.S. Air Force Maj. Matthew Harvey, assistant director of operations, 818th MSAS.
At Mobility Guardian, the MSAS conducted training as part of the African Deployment Assistance Partnership Team-air (ADAPT-air) program, said Harvey. Through the ADAPT-air program, MSAS Airmen advise African partners how to conduct aircraft and airfield operations safely. While the MSAS encapsulates more than 30 career fields, the training here is focused primarily on basic aerial port fundamentals.
“They help our people respect the limitations of the aircraft during loading and off-loading so that we can concentrate on moving from one African zone to another in a safe way,” said Senegal air force Capt. Balla Sarr, a loadmaster and maintenance officer.
Through the MSAS training at Mobility Guardian, U.S. and international forces shared best practices by working hand-in- hand with one another, said Harvey. The training displayed a level of cooperation with partner nations and strengthens overall interoperability of international mobility forces.
“I think being self-sufficient is always the goal of any type of air advising,” said Harvey. “Countries are able to take and foster the information we give them, make it their own, and develop their own institutions and programs so that they can train and develop the next generation of forces.”
International partners said the training provided valuable insight on how to increase their own capacity for air mobility operations.
“We are very honored and humbled to be a part of this operation,” said Gabon air force Capt. Mvourou Andrix, chief of instruction, education and maintenance, Gabon air force headquarters, Gabon. “Throughout ADAPT-air we were able to accomplish our jobs safely, but throughout this exercise there is a bigger emphasis on safety. As long as we keep on participating in exercises like this we will be able to take new technology and new procedures back home to enhance our operations and capabilities.”
Others agreed.
“Mobility Guardian has been a huge experience for me because even though I’ve learned a lot of things through the ADAPT-air program, I haven’t really been able to have hands-on experience,” said Gabon air force Warrant Officer Adjudant Fitzgerald Idyatha, loadmaster, Libreville, Gabon. “Mobility Guardian has allowed us to have hands-on experience and see other aircraft such as the KC-135, KC-10, and C-17.”
While the MSAS program is geared toward enhancing the capabilities of partner nations, U.S. participants in Mobility Guardian said they found working with the program beneficial as well.
“Working with multiple foreign nations was an experience I’ve never had before,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Brian Clark, loadmaster, 40th Airlift Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. “It was a great opportunity being able to share tips and techniques with one another.”
| Date Taken: | 08.10.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 08.10.2017 20:11 |
| Story ID: | 244514 |
| Location: | TACOMA, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 155 |
| Downloads: | 4 |
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