Ramstein NCO partners up

***image1***Classes in aircraft safety and cargo shipping may not seem to be directly related to the United States’ foreign policy objectives. But they may be closer than originally thought.

An Airman from Ramstein Air Base and three Soldiers from Vicenza, Italy, recently spent two weeks in Entebbe, Uganda, sharing their knowledge of military transportation and other subjects with the Ugandan Army and Air Force in the first phase of ADAPT – Africa Deployment Assistance Phased Training.

Designed to strengthen ties between the U.S. and Ugandan military forces, the four-phase program helps enable Uganda to become a ready and willing partner for contingencies on the African continent, a long-term goal of the United States.

Tech. Sgt. Brian Munn, an air transportation specialist with the 86th Air Mobility Squadron, said he, along with 1st Lt. Charlie Jones, Master Sgt. George Duenas and Staff Sgt. Brian Ruse, all assigned to the Army’s Southern European Task Force, was charged with educating host military forces on unit movement operations and handling hazardous materials.

Lt. Col. Kevin Therrien, 86th Air Mobility Squadron commander, said the U.S. servicemembers’ work was critical to building an ever-more stable African continent.

“Sergeant Munn’s work to teach the cargo preparation and passenger manifesting skills needed to deploy forces directly supports AU (African Union) and United Nations’ missions in the region with the strategic goal of creating the stable, free environment in which people can flourish in accordance with U.S. foreign policy objectives,” he said.

“That’s a long-term goal, but missions like this take us one step closer to achieving that goal,” the colonel said.

“I hope they establish those military-to-military contacts and personal relationships that are priceless when combined operations are required. Although not readily apparent, that directly supports the 86th Air Mobility Squadron’s portions of the 86th Airlift Wing’s mission by posturing ourselves to provide world-class airfield operations in an expeditionary environment, particularly as we are likely to work with African nation-partners in response to a contingency on that continent. In addition, I’m sure they will also demonstrate the professionalism and strength of our non-commissioned officer corps by their example.”

Colonel Therrien said the most immediate and important goal was to “leave the Ugandan military better prepared to deploy.” Sergeant Munn stressed that this goal was met.

“They’re eager to learn what we do,” he said from Entebbe. “One thing they appreciate is the portion of training where we talk about safety. We’re teaching a lot, but when I covered safety around aircraft, they were really excited. They’ve got some helicopters, but they haven’t dealt with aircraft a lot.”

Sergeant Munn said once word spread the classes were being offered, enrollment increased.

“We were originally tasked for around 36 people,” he said. “But once their Army and Air Force heard the class was going on, others wanted to join in. Maj. George Wambafo, a logistics officer with their Air Force’s 1st Division, has kind of been the team leader in our class.”

Sergeant Munn said the U.S. Army contingent teaches how to move units and cargo and how to do proper paperwork “all the way through to where they’d hand everything to the Air Force.

With my classes, I’m training them on how to load a plane, how to do all the forms, do joint inspections, pallet build-up, weighing and marking of vehicles, and then I threw in safety,” he said. “I’m more or less teaching them a formula and down the road, a team will be brought in that will qualify them on these things.”

Colonel Therrien said Sergeant Munn was chosen for this position because “like the CRG as a whole, he is the quiet professional who always gets the job done. His unassuming nature, his listening skills, his patience and ability to encourage participation made him an excellent choice to teach cargo preparation and shipping many of us take for granted.”

Sergeant Munn has deployed numerous times in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

“He’s worked with militaries from Poland, Romania and Rwanda, to name a few,” Colonel Therrien said. “On a recent deployment to Kosovo, he was awarded a medal from the Slovenian military for his outstanding support and humanitarian assistance.”