AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy (AFNS) -- Members of the 31st Logistics Readiness Squadron trained four Croatian air force officers during their visit here July 18 to 22.
The weeklong training familiarized the Croatians with pre-deployment logistics and planning processes.
They learned how to handle materiel, set up supply stations in a deployed location, supply fuel, distribute construction materials to a field environment and establish a forward operating base.
"They came here with several objectives, most of that being geared toward being able to self deploy and write their own doctrine on deploying," said 1st Lt. Scott Manno, the 31st LRS fuels management flight commander. "We gave a very broad view of what we do in the (31st LRS) and how we deploy our gear. I know they've fulfilled their objectives and they're also taking a lot of stuff back with them."
The training is intended to help the Croatians establish their own deployment program and train other members of their air force.
"They're deploying to forward locations with us and so they're here to learn how to move their (equipment) and also learn a little bit of our system," Manno said. "It's kind of the difference between giving a man a fish and teaching a man to fish. We don't move their stuff for them, but we are teaching them enough to be able to write their own doctrine."
We were able to familiarize ourselves with the processes for pre-deployment, said Croatian air force Lt. Col. Ivica Eaguz. We will be able to use these processes to make improvements to our systems in Croatia.
The Croatian visit to Aviano Air Base also helped foster relations between the two NATO participants, officials said. While Croatia and the U.S. work together in a deployed environment, this offered another opportunity to facilitate relations between the nations and promises greater cooperation in the future.
We really value the cooperation that exists between our nations, Eaguz said. We look forward to building that partnership more in the future.
Manno agreed with his Croatian counterpart about the importance of a strong United States-Croatia partnership.
"I know (building partnerships) is one of (U.S. Air Forces in Europe's) top tenets and we are in a good situation here, with (the Croatians) so close," Manno said. "They can travel three or four hours and be able to work with us face to face and not only receive training ... but build that partnership and learn how to work with each other.
"The things that we can learn from them are not just the differences that separate us, but the differences that combine us," he continued. "They liken themselves to masters of improvisation and that's how we have to be in logistics readiness. (The Croatians) have a very 'get it done' mentality and it's definitely something we can learn from."