US, Polish Air Force fly toward brighter future

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jonathan Stefanko
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
POWIDZ AIR BASE, Poland --  Approximately 130 service members left Powidz Air Base, Poland, April 17, 2015, after completing bilateral training with the Polish air force.

The training featured two C-130J Super Hercules from the 37th Airlift Squadron, two C-130H legacies from the 302nd Airlift Wing and military personnel from around Europe.

"Flying in Poland affords the 37th AS a tremendous opportunity to accomplish training that we'd otherwise have difficulty obtaining," 1st Lt. Kenneth Hertzler, 37th AS co-pilot. "Our time with the Poles was important for all of us because our air forces were able to exchange with one another in terms of experience and ideas. With that exchange, we're able to continue to improve and build upon this already incredible partnership we have with the Polish air force."

In addition to routine flying, the 37th AS and 302 AW trained alongside Polish C-130E legacies during formation. Additional training included nighttime low level training, unimproved landing zone and dropping Polish air force paratroopers.

"As a relatively new co-pilot in the C-130J, I learned so much from this trip," Hertzler said. "I learned how to employ a formation composed of three different generations of the C-130 and what sort of considerations need to be made during the planning process. I received a glimpse of how the Polish C-130 squadron operates and was surprised to learn how much our air forces have in common."

Though it was a great opportunity for the U.S. Airmen to learn, they were not the only ones to improve their skill sets.

"Conducting this training is very important," Polish air force St. Chor. Jarostaw Koztowski, 33rd Air Base loading zone survey manager. "The Polish pilots learn new skills from their American counterparts and it helps build support between the two armed forces.

"In 2014 we were able to carry out approximately 615 missions in a four month span," Koztowski continued. "It is because of the work we do alongside the Americans that helped us reach that achievement."

While working together friendships begin to form and continue long after the end of the training.

"We are only able to work hand-in-hand twice a year so we try to maintain the relationships made here after the training," Koztowski said. "We e-mail, talk and whatever else we need to do to stay in touch with our American counterparts. The experienced gained is greatly appreciated while everyone is here, but we want to continue gaining skills any way we can."

Though the deployment has concluded, invaluable skills were gained and friendships were made leaving a smoother path for future training for the U.S. and Polish airmen.