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A 435th Contingency Response Group member and a Croatian air force member check out rescue equipment in February in Croatia.
Members of the 435th Contingency Response Group building partnership capacity activity visited Croatian air force members at Lucko Air Base, Croatia, Feb. 18 through 22.
The Contingency Response Group BPC team comprises 20 Airmen from 17 different Air Force specialty codes. These members have gone on countless tours since the dedicated activity was established last year.
“With an ongoing goal of NATO interoperability, events such as these are an outstanding opportunity for us to share ideas on activities of importance for both air forces,” said Maj. Austin Burrill, 435th BPC air adviser and mission commander.
A team of air advisers, consisting of two survival evasion reconnaissance and evasion specialists and one officer in charge, traveled to Croatia to complete a SERE familiarization program exchange with members of the Croatian air force.
“We had a significant opportunity to exchange ideas with our counterparts on topics of importance for all involved,” Burrill said.
The air advisers spent three days with Croatian air force members coaching them on many different SERE lifesaving techniques.
“I was very impressed with the talent, initiative and interest of our counterparts for this event,” Burrill said. “The ongoing dialogue on fundamental elements of professional military aviation was a benefit for all participants from both partner nations.”
The members participated in several discussion sessions covering topics of personnel recovery fundamentals and NATO SERE program considerations essential for all participants to enhance their knowledge on the subject.
“It was a very rewarding opportunity to work with our Croatian allies and exchange SERE information with each other,” said Staff Sgt. Brandon Fountain, 435th BPC air adviser. “I look forward to future familiarization event opportunities with the Croatian air force.”
