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About 50 Airmen and four aircraft from bases in the U.S. and Europe are participated in the Aeroexpo Marrakech 2010 international air show in Morocco, which ran from Jan. 27 to 30.
These Airmen included members from Ramstein’s own 86th Airlift Wing and 17th Air Force. Static display aircraft at the event included a C-130J Super Hercules from the 37th Airlift Squadron on Ramstein; two F-16C Fighting Falcons from the 169th Fighter Wing, South Carolina Air National Guard; and a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 151st Air Refueling Wing, Utah Air National Guard.
The purpose of the Aeroexpo was to build on relationships and to bring major players in the aeronautics industry to showcase their aviation technology, said Maj. Paula Kurtz, 17th Air Force chief of public affairs. Visitors and nearly 40 delegations from around the world attended and were given the opportunity to create new trade and business partners and build relationships. U.S. Africa Command is dedicated to building lasting relationships and the Aeroexpo was an opportunity for the U.S. military to meet foreign military counterparts and establish new relationships as well as build on existing ones, Major Kurtz said.
“After we stood up in 2008, the command’s focus during the first year was to build an organization dedicated to building partnerships. Morocco is a good example of this process,” she said. “The U.S. actively partners with Morocco to pursue numerous regional activities and initiatives in accordance with our theater
security cooperation objectives in North Africa.”
U.S. AFRICOM’s air component command, 17th Air Force, Utah and South Carolina also had leadership in attendance at the show.
Maj. Gen. Ronald Ladnier, commander of 17th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Africa, and Maj. Gen. Brian Tarbet, adjutant general, Utah National Guard, were present during the trade show, along with Maj. Gen. Stanhope Spears, adjutant general for the South Carolina National Guard.
“We have a great working relationship with Morocco and the Aeroexpo gives us a chance to work together once again to keep the relationship strong,” General Ladnier said.
For the 169th ANG unit in South Carolina, gearing up for the event took some time, but it was time well spent.
“It has taken us four months to get everything set up,” said Master Sgt. Ken Pearsall, NCO in charge of the contingent. “There was a lot that went into the preparation but it’s all worth it. Coming to Morocco gives us a chance to get out of our country, meet new people and make new friends.”
Although this was the first time the 169th ANG unit worked closely with Morocco, the Utah ANG unit has been a partner with them for years through the Guard’s State Partnership program.
The Utah ANG has forged a partnership through the National Guard’s State Partnership Program with Morocco for more than six years, supporting six different activities in 2009, including medical, engineering, disaster preparedness, and medical exercises and activities, Major Kurtz said.
Air demonstrations from the U.S. and Morocco were also scheduled during the Aeroexpo, which had more than 40,000 guests.
