PISA, Italy (AFPN) -- Twenty-six Airmen from the 37th Airlift Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, participated in Exercise Leaning Tower here from March 29 to April 3. They trained on formation low-level flights, evasive maneuvers and airdrops using night-vision goggles.
“This whole exercise was made possible (because of) one of our Airmen meeting with an Italian commander while he was deployed in Kyrgyzstan,” said Lt. Col. J. R. Reid, 37th AS commander. “Their initial conversation led to formal arrangements between the U.S. and Italian military.”
Aircrews from the 37th AS were accompanied by life support, aviation resource management, intelligence and 25 people from the 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. Each of the four, five-person crews flew one five-hour low-level sortie per day, averaging six airdrops and two hours of night-vision goggle training.
“There are many advantages to training in Italy,” said Capt. Al Lane, deployed mission commander. “The quiet hours aren’t as strict, the weather is nice, and there is more terrain. This gives us the ability to fly for longer periods of time and get plenty of good-quality training.”
“This is how we train for combat military operations to deliver equipment, supplies, food and troops,” Colonel Reid said. “It’s all about training in combined operations and working on our interoperability with the Italians.”
“Working together and cooperation is a must,” said Maj. Ciro Esposito, chief of plans and operations for the 46th Air Brigade in the Italian air force. “We are eager for the chance to join the 37th Airlift Squadron in low-level mission formation flying and (night-vision goggle) training in the future.”