Air advisors support Latvian Baltic air policing

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Armando A. Schwier-Morales
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Air advisors from the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing's Contingency Response Group, Detachment-1, completed a five-day trip supporting NATO partners and the Baltic air policing mission in Latvia from Dec. 8 to 12.

The Airmen and Army Soldiers on the trip built partnerships by providing the Latvian military with information and perspectives on how they could improve their air surveillance and defense command and control processes and capabilities.

"It is a unique and humbling honor to have the opportunity to advise and assist an allied partner, especially when the impact is critical to the defense of Europe," said Maj. John C. Sherinian, 435th CRG Det. 1 air battle manager and regional affairs specialist. "Our discussions and findings will help shape the defense of Latvia to better support NATO's defenses in Europe."

It wasn't the first time Sherinian and Lt. Col. Viesturs Masulis, Air Surveillance Squadron commander, Latvian Air Force, teamed up to support each other. Both graduated from the Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. Having been immersed in the U.S. ways, Masulis was grateful to have Sherinian and his team's flexibility.

"I highly appreciate (U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa) and the U.S. Army's involvement assisting in Latvian air defense build-up," said Masulis. "I know that (the advisors) greatest challenge was to abandon the U.S. way of thinking. Normally (Airmen) have a full spectrum of capabilities with a global approach in projecting power; meanwhile, the Latvian Armed Forces are struggling with many constraints, like limited finances, manpower or infrastructure. Despite those shortfalls, we have to improve Latvian capability in air defense. (The advisors) did a great job by stepping 'out of the box' and thinking how to do 'more with less.'"

The U.S. team traveled to Lielvarde Air Base for capabilities demonstrations and briefings at Latvian Air Force Headquarters. During the visit, they formed a working group that discussed the priorities for further development of air surveillance, ground-based missile defense and communication in Latvia.

"Due to the joint Latvian and U.S. working group, there was outstanding participation from the Latvian military to define their country's air surveillance and air defense equipment requirements," said Chief Master Sgt. Luis Martinez, U.S. Air Forces in Europe A3CO command and control superintendent. "They were excellent hosts and a pleasure to work with. I hope the U.S. team can come back again to further refine their training needs." 

The event ended with a combined presentation to the Latvian Undersecretary for Logistics, Janis Karlsberges, at the Latvian Ministry of Defense. This was a significant event as the findings the team presented will help shape the lines of effort with regards to the Latvian's defense budget, said Sherinian.

"This international engagement mission was built on the developments the two nations have made together in the past, and will help us reap greater combined benefits in coordination and interoperability in the years and decades to come," said Sherinian.

This trip is one of the many events Ramstein and the 435th CRG are hosting to support its allies around NATO and the Baltic, said Sherinian.