Features

435th SFS, NATO partners train together at RAB

Story and photos by Airman 1st Class Alexcia Givens
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
March 18, 2022
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Christian Klima, 435th Security Force Squadron instructor, sets up the training area for participants at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Mar. 1, 2022. Kilma prepared each training scenario for the NATO members taking part in a tactical leaders course. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexcia Givens)

The 435th Security Forces Squadron hosted and led a tactical leaders course at Ramstein Air Base, Feb. 26 to March 1.

The U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa course was designed for tactical leaders of NATO partner countries responsible for weapons security to train together in a simulated environment. The course focused on building the foundational knowledge and tactical competency to effectively secure military assets and amplify force protection. The United States, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, and Belgium sent 21 students to attend the course, which built valuable interpersonal relationships throughout the coalition

“It’s essential for NATO to participate in this course because so many of them work together,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Christian Klima, 435th Security Force Squadron defender. “Having the members compare and contrast their standard operating procedure brings them all together.”

Royal Netherlands Air Force Sergeant 1st Class Jamie Stolk fires a weapon during training at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Mar. 1, 2022. Members from multiple NATO nations learned to be adaptive to their environments as well as their battlespace during a tactical leaders course.

The ability to integrate with partners at the tactical levels allows operators to better measure their skills and combine forces to have the greatest effect in any battlespace. “Members should be adaptive to their environments as well as their battlespace,” Klima continued.

Throughout the scenario-based training, instructors prepared tailored operational environments to exercise classroom problems in a real-world environment. Each nation led a different problem set, which allowed command and control of the scenario to flow between nations while giving instructors the opportunity to evaluate their skills and effectiveness.

“The most important part of this training is to see how NATO members’ different techniques and tactics work together,” said German air force Master Sgt. Björn Große, Büchel Air Base security forces platoon sergeant. “If tactics aren’t working, a plan is constructed to correct the issue and ensure future success and a better understanding.”

NATO members employ training in the tactical leaders course at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Feb. 28, 2022. Members exercised techniques and tactics in multiple training scenarios during the course.

Students received instruction on breaching capabilities, advanced gunfighter tactics, close-quarters battle training, and recapture recovery training.

“Even though there are some differences in execution, NATO forces work with the same intentions,” said Große. “It is important for us to understand those differences and find a way to make it us all.”

The 435th Security Forces Squadron will continue building advanced courses to benefit the NATO coalition effectiveness of combined security forces response teams.

German Air Force Master Sgt. Björn Große Büchel Air Base security forces platoon sergeant leads a close-quarters battle at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Mar. 1, 2022. CQB is one of four areas evaluated during the tactical leaders course.
A U.S. Air Force Airman participates in a tactical leaders course at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Mar. 1, 2022. At the start of each training scenario a member is chosen to lead a team, so instructors could assess skills and procedures.
NATO tactical leaders member countries listen to instructors at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Feb. 28, 2022. NATO members participated in the tactical leaders course hosted by the 435th Security Forces Squadron.
Belgian Air Component First Lieutenant Bran Claes exercises advanced gunfighter tactics, during a security forces training course at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Mar. 1, 2022. The tactical leaders course is targeted at tactical leaders of NATO member countries.
A U.S. Air Force Airman participates in a tactical leaders course at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Mar. 1, 2022. Participants learned advanced gunfighter tactics, breaching capabilities, advanced gunfighter tactics and close-quarters battle as part of the course.
U.S. Air Force Technical Sgt. Neil Stuart, 39th Security Forces Squadron defender, scans for simulated adversaries during a tactical leaders course at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Mar 1, 2022. NATO members learned advanced gunfighter tactics, breaching capabilities, advanced gunfighter tactics and close-quarters battle as part of the course.
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