CAMPO GRANDE, BRAZIL—Two weeks of New York Air National Guard joint training with the Brazilian Air Force climaxed with a demonstration mission in front of Brazilian and American leaders on August 29.
100 members of the New York Air National Guard took part in Brazil’s Exercise Tapio from August 20 to August 30.
The joint exercise revolved around a variety of tactical problems, including helicopter infiltration and extrication, rescues that required a rope to access the patient, separated survivor scenarios, and an urban operation with a vehicle extrication and mass casualty event.
During the final event, the Brazilians and Americans proved their abilities to trust each other's aircraft and tactical practices, leaders said.
During the final exercise, the American and Brazilian Airmen conducted a rescue mission while engaging a simulated enemy with blanks and explosive simulators.
The visitors watching the demonstration included the Brazilian Minister of Defense, Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira.
The goal of the American and Brazilian joint training was to promote mutual understanding, trust, and interoperability among participants and to converge efforts to increase the capacity of the American and Brazilian Armed Forces, said Army Brig. Gen. Isabel Smith, the director of joint staff for the New York National Guard.
New York took part because of its State Partnership Program relationship with Brazil.
"This exercise has been a great experience for our Air Force personnel to conduct combat search and rescue and close air support operations alongside the Brazilian forces,” said U.S. Air Force Brig. General, Denise Donnell , the commander of the New York Air National Guard.
The training also tested the support staff how took part in the exercise, Donnell said.
“We are seeing our maintainers utilizing their different skill sets and experience and working incredibly hard to make this mission a success and to safely be able to fix our aircraft to support this exercise," she emphasized.
"They have maintained a great positive attitude and enjoyed working with their Brazilian military counterpart,” he added.
The State Partnership Program, through the years, has been an innovative, cost-effective program that supports Combatant Command, U.S. Embassy and partner nation objectives, but also builds defense capability and capacity and fosters enduring and personal relationships, according to National Guard officials.
Through the program, National Guard Soldiers and Airmen conduct military-to-military engagements in support of defense security goals and also leverage whole-of-society relationships and capabilities to facilitate broader interagency involvement spanning military, government, economic and social spheres.
"The strong relationships between our countries are continually based on mutual respect and experience we can teach each other. Even with the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been able to execute countless key leader engagements and exercises,” Smith said.
“At the distinguished visitor event today, I had the opportunity to speak with the Minister of Defense for Brazil. He indicated that together we can continue to build a partnership between Brazil and the United States,” Smith said.
Date Taken: | 08.31.2022 |
Date Posted: | 08.31.2022 09:08 |
Story ID: | 428373 |
Location: | CAMPO GRANDE, MATO GROSSO DO SUL, BR |
Web Views: | 141 |
Downloads: | 1 |
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