News

Ramstein, Poland partner for Atlantic Resolve

October 26, 2017
Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Bass
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
U.S. Airmen assigned to the 934th Airlift Wing out of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, take off in a C-130H Hercules Oct. 16 from Powidz Air Base, Poland, during the latest iteration of Operation Atlantic Resolve. The NATO-led exercise prepares U.S. and Polish Airmen to work together in order to increase interoperability and enhance regional security.

POWIDZ AIR BASE, Poland — More than 100 Airmen assigned to the 86th Airlift Wing, along with two C-130J Super Hercules said, ‘tschuess,’ to Germany and, ‘cześć,’ to Poland for the latest iteration of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

“We’re here as part of the aviation rotation to operate and train with the Polish air force,” said Capt. Jonathan Hansen, 37th Airlift Squadron pilot and OAR mission commander.

The mission of OAR entails enhancing interoperability with the Polish air force while also maintaining regional security. The NATO-led OAR mission goes back to 2014.

“We’re here to stand side by side with our Polish brothers,” Hansen said. “They’re one of our strongest NATO partners, and we’re here to stand shoulder to shoulder with them.”

The 86th AW Airmen arrived in Poland on Oct. 13 and began flying operations Oct. 16. Along with the 86th AW, Airmen assigned to the
934th Airlift Wing, out of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, brought their C-130s as well.

“We’re working with our partner nation allies to bring our own tactics and procedures together to meld them into one,” Hansen said. “Since we speak different tactical languages and some of our procedures are slightly different, opportunities like this are very important so that we can get everything hashed out and gain that experience between our communities.”

While training with the Polish, 37th AS pilots and loadmasters practiced tactics they wouldn’t normally have the chance to practice.

For this particular iteration, pilots are practicing formation inter-flying, where aircraft of different models fly in a single formation. While this sounds simple enough, the reality is much more difficult, Hansen said.

“We’re operating with models of the C-130, which are much older,” Hansen said. “The ‘H’ model (operated by the reserves) and the ‘E’ model, which the Polish operate, are vastly different in a lot of regards, so actually operating with them, flying with them, talking with them is something a lot of us haven’t had the opportunity to experience.”

For two weeks, 86th Airlift Wing Airmen will train alongside their reserve brethren and some new Polish brothers and sisters.

A U.S. Airmen assigned to the 37th Airlift Squadron returns a salute from his crew chief before departing Powidz Air Base, Poland, Oct. 16 on a familiarization flight during Operation Atlantic Resolve. Airmen flew four C-130 Hercules aircraft around the OAR area of responsibility to begin familiarizing themselves with the terrain as well as the how the different aircraft fly in formation.
Capt. Christopher Freed, 37th Airlift Squadron pilot, stares out the cockpit of a C-130J Super Hercules while flying Oct. 13 from Ramstein Air Base to Powidz Air Base, Poland. Airmen assigned to the 86th Airlift Wing flew to Poland for the latest iteration of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a NATO-led training operation between the U.S. Air Force and Polish air force.
Capt. Jonathan Hansen, 37th Airlift Squadron pilot and Operation Atlantic Resolve mission commander, wears a Polish air force patch over his OAR patch Oct. 16 on Powidz Air Base, Poland. The mission of OAR is to enhance interoperability while simultaneously maintaining regional security with the Polish air force.
Lt. Col. Lance Allred, 435th Contingency Response Squadron director of operations, listens to a question during an Operation Atlantic Resolve mission brief Oct. 16 on Powidz Air Base, Poland. The first day of flying during this iteration of OAR was familiarization flights for the 37th Airlift Squadron and 934th Airlift Wing pilots.
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