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POWIDZ AIR BASE, Poland — Brig. Gen. Mark Dillon, 86th Airlift Wing commander, strengthened the bond with the 86th’s Polish sister wing, the 3rd Airlift Wing, during a ceremony here June 21.
Along with members of the Polish Air Force, Airmen from the 86th AW and 435th Air Ground Operations Wing from Ramstein attended the signing of the letter of intention by General Dillon and the 3rd AW commander, Polish Air Force Brig. Gen. Tadeusz Mikutel, as they formalized their wings’ relationship.
“I want to thank General Mikutel for his leadership, vision and hospitality as we continue to build on the partnership between Powidz and Ramstein air bases … indeed between our two nations’ air forces,” General Dillon said.
Before the ceremony, General Mikutel; Polish Air Force Lt. Col. Mieczyslaw Gaudyn, 3rd AW deputy commander of operations; and Maj. Marek Kruk, 3rd AW commander of maintenance, broke down the structure and tasks for General Dillon of the 3rd AW and the process of training within the wing.
“We really appreciate the cooperation with Ramstein,” General Mikutel said. “And, we are looking forward to expanding that cooperation.”
As the Polish officers relayed the great work they are doing, General Dillon took time to applaud their efforts.
“It’s fantastic what you guys are doing here,” General Dillon said. “It makes sister wing partnership even more exciting.”
General Mikutel also showcased areas of the base to General Dillon, including some of the aircraft and ending with the newly built hangar that will be used for C-130 maintenance. Once there, each commander thanked one another for their partnership.
“As we share tactics, techniques and procedures between our air forces, we can continue to capture ‘best practices’ and improve our operational skills,” General Dillon said. “As iron sharpens iron, Airmen from Powidz and Ramstein will sharpen one another, learn from one another and build on a relationship that began many years ago.”
As the ink dried on the letter of intention, both commanders pledged to hold to what they had just signed.
“With common purpose to strengthen our alliance, advance our interoperability and improve our mutual security and cooperation, we establish the 86th Airlift Wing and the 3rd Airlift Wing as sister wings.”
The 86th AW provides world-class airlift, expeditionary combat support, full-spectrum airfield operations and base services for the KMC.
The 3rd AW was formed in April 2007. Its purpose is to organize and supervise air transport and air drop, as well as medical evacuations and peacetime search and rescue.
