Taceval Results Are In!! Participating MOB and FOB Trapani Personnel
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Volume 23, No. 10 NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen 25 May 2007 This would not have been possible without the combined efforts of all Taceval results are in!! participating MOB and FOB Trapani personnel. Congratulations and great By Col. J.N. Zijlstra deployment-support personnel work! to ensure the Component had the Many Component members, resources and personnel to perform By SMSgt J. Hijmenberg both military and civilian, have been these missions. focused on TACEVAL preparation Although the names of the since last July. We have conducted Thanks to all MOB and FOB Trapani “enemies” were made up, the more and participated in multiple exercises personnel who played a part in than 200 Component members and deployments, with our deploying making the TACEVAL a complete who participated in the TACEVAL – TACEVAL Division, evaluated the personnel going through intensive success. You should rightfully be from 9-18 May felt like they were in Component’s operational readiness. ICCS/IDT training, having their IPE proud that the Component received places called Nuraghia, Etnaland and Under the lead of Division Head Col. and personal equipment inspected an overall SATISFACTORY rating Zaraland. In order to get into the right Sylvain Faulcher, they tested three in processing lines, and setting in each of the evaluation areas: mindset, everyone was told to play main areas: operations, logistics and up/conducting operations in both Operations, Support, and Force as if it were real. Coordination skills force protection. “TACEVAL is not an austere and forward operating Protection. The TACEVAL certifi es the were essential. exercise”, he briefed the detachment base conditions. To support these Component’s ability to successfully at the beginning of the ‘drill’, “Act as events, we energized our battle staff, conduct deployed operations – The ADVON crew arrived at our if you were in an actual mission. deployment/wing control centers, these results have demonstrated Forward Operation Base (FOB) Do as you would within real national deployment managers and other this capability to our NATO brethren. Trapani via TCA’s on 9 May while and NATO constraints.” the rest of the Component members Photos by SMSgt. J. Hijmenberg landed by E-3A’s and TCA on 11 May. The exercise was conducted in The last days before the employment four phases: planning and activation, phase started were fi lled with deployment, execution and briefi ngs and last reminders about redeployment. During the fi rst two how to handle certain situations. phases several tests were already evaluated. Simulator missions had to The Component members and be fl own by the aircrew and people the members of FOB Trapani had were selected to show their fi re to manage intruders, suspicious fi ghting and shooting skills. packages, anti-NATO demonstrations and more. Exericise Magic Venture The NATO Response Force criteria earlier this year was an excellent had to be followed from the SHAPE training opportunity to prepare Tactical Evaluation Manual to assess everyone for this tactical evaluation. the Component’s capability as a Loading crew verifi ed the secure packing of the pallets. Approximately 80 evaluators, tactical air unit and the required serving with CC-Air HQ Ramstein military combat readiness. A historical journey through the E-3A Component’s past By Heidi Soerensen, PIO In this issue of NATO Skywatch, we will continue to look back at the Component’s heritage by running the third original article from the past. Browsing through the large collection of past issues shows numerous articles and photos about the E-3A, but only very few articles were printed about the Trainer Cargo Aircraft (TCA). With this story, we would like to highlight the TCA Squadron and increase your knowledge of this valuable part of the Component, including past and present missions. This original article is from 14 February 1992 and describes the very fi rst humanitarian mission in the Component´s history - executed by the TCA! Continued on page 8 Next NATO Skywatch: 29 June Norwegians run in Vienna Submissions due by: See page 8 21 June 25 May 2007 NATO Skywatch 3 Base Support Wing By 1Lt. J. Braselmann 2007 marks another milestone in Force School in Kaufbeuren, Bavaria, the records of the E-3A Component. where he passed the mandatory 14 As we all know, we are heading for a For the fi rst time ever months basic ATC-training in theory tremendous 25th anniversary party and simulations and where he was in June. rewarded with a “Student’s License.” Earlier this year, there was an Geilenkirchen fi nally received his historical event of a different kind life traffi c assignment in 2006. It was in the Airfi eld Services Squadron. 2nd Lt. Kalt’s goal to prove that he 2nd Lt. Christoph Kalt successfully was able to transfer his knowledge completed his on-job-training at from school into real world scenarios Frisbee TOWER and Frisbee RADAR, and solve complex air traffi c thus acquiring the fi rst ATC (Air situations. Traffi c Control)-license ever in 1st Lt. Dirk Nass, Tower Watch Geilenkirchen. Supervisor, ATC Instructor/Evaluator and profi ciency checker, took on But let us take a closer look the responsibility for 2nd Lt. Kalt´s From the very fi rst day of our Radar- and Tower-training. During Component’s existence, all ATC- this winter, 2nd Lt. Kalt received his offi cers were so-called “licensed“ “Ready Report“ for the fi nal test and controllers coming from various in February 2007, he was handed German Air Force bases. With their over the desired ATC-license, after arrival at Geilenkirchen, they had a demanding three-day checkout. to achieve a “facility rating” for our Congratulations!!! aerodrome, taking into consideration Both instructor, 1st Lt. Nass, and the various aspects and peculiarities former student, 2nd Lt. Kalt, would of ETNG (i.e. ICAO location indicator Photo by A. Hohenforst like to take this opportunity to express of Geilenkirchen Air Base). their gratitude for the extraordinary In 2005, ETNG became an offi cial support received from our pilots ATC-Training Base of the German along with its multinational aircraft In 2004, 2nd Lt. Kalt started his and air crews, who were willing to Armed Forces. Due to the exceptional crews and its unique organizational ATC-career by attending a special perform with highly-appreciated geographical location of the E-3A structures, training represented, and course in aeronautical English in professionalism, and sometimes, Component, with one runway- still represents, a very special challenge Fürstenfeldbruck, Bavaria. His next with even admirable patience, all end literally on the Dutch border, for every individual also in ATC. step lead him to the Technical Air kinds of training procedures. Change of Command at Force Command leadership that he had demonstrated called Air Command). He understands during a time of great change. Upon the AWACS community and is no By Maj. Gary Jackson, Force Command as the Deputy Force Commander and their retirement to York in the UK, the stranger to the challenges Force the Chief of Staff at Force Command Force Commander, and everyone at Command will face during these Photo by CWO Alda Van Zwieten from March 2004 until his retirement. Force Command, wished both the Air days of transformation and change. During his tenure the Force faced Commodore and his wife Gail all the Of his return to the community, many challenges. In step with NATO, very best during the next phase Air Commodore Whittingham said: Force Command continued its own of their lives. “I am delighted to rejoin the transformation process to better NATO AWACS family in this special prepare for new roles, such as NRF and Air Commodore Whittingham anniversary year. I look forward to an out-of-area deployment capability, On 19 March 2007, Air Commodore working closely with the GK team which places greater demands on Dai Whittingham began his in meeting today’s operational our people and resources. The Air appointment as the Deputy Force challenges and in preparing to face Commodore was also at the centre Commander. Air Commodore the operational environment of the of the struggle to bring the NATO Whittingham comes to Force future.” Mid-Term Modernization programme Command with a varied and yet very online. It was also under his guidance relevant background. Earlier in his that Force Command conducted career, the Air Commodore was a fast- Air Commodore Hodgson a long-term NE-3A and TCA fl eets air Phantom pilot. Notable however, On 7 March 2007, at the SHAPE sustainability analysis and personnel/ is that he is also a qualifi ed E-3D pilot, Club, Major General Tüttelmann, C2 structural reviews at both the has commanded an E-3D Squadron invited guests and members of Force operational and tactical levels. and served as the Component Command gathered to bid adieu to Major General Tüttelmann passed Commander at Waddington Air Commodore Peter Hodgson as his thanks for Air Commodore from July 2000 until August 2002. he retired from the Royal Air Force Hodgson’s unconditional dedication to Most recently, Air Commodore after more than 36 years of service. the Force, for his total achievements Whittingham was the Air Offi cer Air Commodore Hodgson had served and the total professionalism and ISTAR at HQ Strike Command (now Commander of, or endorsement by, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The appearance of advertising in Brig. Gen. Stephen D. Schmidt this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute an endorsement by NATO Chief, Public Information Offi ce of the products or services advertised. Submissions are due seven days before publication and Capt. Richard Komurek may be edited for style and space. Send articles and classifi ed advertisements to the NAEWF E-3A Volume 23, No.