New unit, new way of doing international business

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michael Voss
  • Ramstein Air Base Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Tuesday morning a C-17 Globemaster III sat on the end of the runway at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, as many others do, but this particular aircraft is quite different. 

As loadmasters and the crew pace around completing preflight checklists, you can't help but notice the nation patches on their flight uniforms are different. Some are from the United States, some from Sweden and others from Romania, because this is the first aircraft to be operated by the newly formed Strategic Airlift Capability program, Heavy Airlift Wing. 

Delivered to Pápa Air Base, Hungary, July 18 by pilots from Norway, Sweden, and the United States, this aircraft and its unit have been rewriting the history books about how nations conduct heavy airlift. 

The HAW, based at Pápa, is comprised of 11 European nations which operate independently of NATO's military command. This includes NATO member nations Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and the United States, as well as Partnership for Peace nations Finland and Sweden. 

"The HAW was created as an answer to help other nations meet global reach commitments," said Col. John Zazworsky, HAW commander. "Each nation commits a certain number of troops and dollars toward the initial and operational cost of the aircraft and missions." 

The nations' varying investments, including a portion of the unit's 131 personnel, dictate their amount of annual flying hours on three jointly acquired C-17's. For example, Romania contributed funds toward the initial cost of purchasing the aircraft, and have eight personnel assigned to the unit in exchange for 200 flying hours. 

"It works similar to a time-share of a condo," said Colonel Zazworsky. "Airlift is very expensive and for some nations this provides an alternative to having to front that entire cost alone." 

A cooperative unit like this doesn't come without challenges, but it enables each of the countries to have continued support to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

"It's a very interesting assignment," said Swedish Air Force Loadmaster 1st Lieutenant Harry Johansson. "Language barriers have been challenging, but we have overcome and this team works well for each of the nations involved." 

"This has been the best experience of my career," said seven year U.S. Air Force veteran Staff Sgt. Todd Perkins. "It just simply works. Being a loadmaster is being a loadmaster, it doesn't matter what nation you are from, the responsibilities are the same." 

Activated just over 10 months ago, the HAW has big ambitions, in September and October they will receive their two remaining C-17s. 

"Aviators are trained very similarly to follow checklists and procedures," said the colonel. "Currently the United States has the lead role in the unit, but the goal is to be like any other unit, where any nation could take the lead."