Exercise enhances training, partnerships for U.S., Bulgarian military

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Quinton T. Burris
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
PLOVDIV, Bulgaria --  Airmen from Team Ramstein's 86th Airlift Wing and 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, as well as U.S. Army jumpmasters, have teamed with Bulgarian Armed Forces to conduct Exercise Thracian Spring '10 April 22 to 28 here.

The bilateral training exercise brings U.S. and Bulgarian military forces together to build upon and strengthen the bonds currently shared between the two countries, while continuing to improve interoperability as Bulgaria continues to progress as a new partner nation in NATO.

After being delayed for five days due to the volcanic ash of Eyjafjallajokull, 81 Airmen from the 37th Airlift Squadron, 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 435th Contingency Response Group, as well as members of the 5th Quartermaster Company at Rhine Ordnance Barracks and Explosive Ordinance Disposal Mobile Unit 8 out of Sigonella, Italy, arrived in Plovdiv for the fourth annual exercise.

"We are here to build partnerships while working with our Bulgarian counterparts as we exchange airlift and airdrop tactics and ideas; our trip here is vital to everyone involved," said Lt. Col Matthew Wehner, 37th AS deployed commander. "We are able to assist the Bulgarians with training and maintaining their jump requirements during the day and complete out nighttime training requirements during the night ... a task which is difficult to complete in Germany due the reduced hours of darkness."

In a matter of four days, 37th AS crews and 435th Security Forces Squadron jumpmasters, with assistance from U.S. Army jumpmasters, completed nine sorties, trained 360 Bulgarian paratroopers on the proper way to jump from a C-130J aircraft and completed 513 static line and freefall jumps.

Given the compressed training schedule from what was previously planned as a two-week event, the days are long and the nights short, however the mood stayed positive given the value of the exercise.

The Bulgarians have capitalized on some vital, realistic training; the U.S. aircrews seized the opportunity to fly one of the best training airspaces in Europe; and the jumpmasters took advantage of the chance to exchange ideas and training, tactics and procedures with NATO partners.

"I really enjoy working with the Bulgarians; they are very professional," said Maj. John Grimm, 435th SFS commander. "The opportunity to train with our NATO partners allows them (the Bulgarians) the chance to understand how we operate, while we learn how they operate. All of which will pay huge dividends in the long run, as we continue build upon on interoperability for possible future joint operations."

And according to Bulgarian Lt. Col. Petko Petkov, 68th Special Forces chief of Combat Training who recently returned from a tour with U.S. forces in Afghanistan, the training provided here is not only vitally important to success downrange, it's also a "good time."

"I enjoy any opportunity I have to work with U.S. forces. It is always a pleasure; no matter the location," he said.