Airmen Work hand-in-hand with Polish counterparts

By Senior Airman Hailey Haux, 86th Airlift Wing Public Affaris / Published October 24, 2013

An Airman from the 435th Contingency Response Group jumps out of a C-130J Super Hercules during a theater security cooperation event, Oct. 24, 2013, Powidz Air Transport Base, Poland. Generally, jumpers are used to secure and protect a new landing zone prior to aircraft landing.
(U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hailey Haux)

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An Airman from the 435th Contingency Response Group jumps out of a C-130J Super Hercules during a theater security cooperation event, Oct. 24, 2013, Powidz Air Transport Base, Poland. Generally, jumpers are used to secure and protect a new landing zone prior to aircraft landing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hailey Haux)

Airmen from the 86th Maintenance Squadron work with their Polish counterparts to remove a propeller from a C-130J Super Hercules during a theater security cooperation event, Oct. 22, 2013, at Powidz Air Transport Base, Poland. Airmen from the 86th AMXS were able to train and learn with Polish service members during the event. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hailey Haux)

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Airmen from the 86th Maintenance Squadron work with their Polish counterparts to remove a propeller from a C-130J Super Hercules during a theater security cooperation event, Oct. 22, 2013, at Powidz Air Transport Base, Poland. Airmen from the 86th AMXS were able to train and learn with Polish service members during the event. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hailey Haux)

Pilots from the Polish air force and Airmen from the 37th Airlift Squadron go through a pre-flight brief during a theater security cooperation event, Oct. 21, 2013, Powidz Air Transport Base, Poland. Airmen from Ramstein Air Base, Germany got a unique opportunity to work hand-in-hand with their Polish counterparts. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hailey Haux)

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Pilots from the Polish air force and Airmen from the 37th Airlift Squadron go through a pre-flight brief during a theater security cooperation event, Oct. 21, 2013, Powidz Air Transport Base, Poland. Airmen from Ramstein Air Base, Germany got a unique opportunity to work hand-in-hand with their Polish counterparts. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hailey Haux)

Tech. Sgt. Brian Craner, 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, removes pads from the propeller of a C-130J Super Hercules during a theater security cooperation event, Oct. 21, 2013, Powidz Air Transport Base, Poland. Airmen from the 86th AMXS travel with the aircraft to ensure it stays maintained and mission ready. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hailey Haux)

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Tech. Sgt. Brian Craner, 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, removes pads from the propeller of a C-130J Super Hercules during a theater security cooperation event, Oct. 21, 2013, Powidz Air Transport Base, Poland. Airmen from the 86th AMXS travel with the aircraft to ensure it stays maintained and mission ready. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hailey Haux)

Senior Airman Jodi Parks, 37th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, checks the side door of a C-130J Super Hurcules before takeoff during a theater security cooperation event, Oct. 21, 2013, Powidz Air Transport Base, Poland. Loadmasters have a checklist of items to run through prior to departure to ensure the aircraft is fully functional. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hailey Haux)

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Senior Airman Jodi Parks, 37th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, checks the side door of a C-130J Super Hurcules before takeoff during a theater security cooperation event, Oct. 21, 2013, Powidz Air Transport Base, Poland. Loadmasters have a checklist of items to run through prior to departure to ensure the aircraft is fully functional. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hailey Haux)

Staff Sgt. Devant Jones, 435th Security Forces Squadron jumpmaster, packs his parachute up after a jump during a theater security cooperation event, Oct. 24, 2013, Powidz Air Transport Base, Poland. Generally, jumpers are used to secure and protect a new landing zone prior to aircraft landing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hailey Haux)

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Staff Sgt. Devant Jones, 435th Security Forces Squadron jumpmaster, packs his parachute up after a jump during a theater security cooperation event, Oct. 24, 2013, Powidz Air Transport Base, Poland. Generally, jumpers are used to secure and protect a new landing zone prior to aircraft landing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hailey Haux)

Airmen from the 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron remove a propeller from a C-130J Super Hercules while participating in a theater security cooperation event, Oct. 22, 2013, at Powidz Air Transport Base, Poland. Airmen from the 86th AMXS are here to ensure the aircraft are properly maintained and mission ready. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hailey Haux)

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Airmen from the 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron remove a propeller from a C-130J Super Hercules while participating in a theater security cooperation event, Oct. 22, 2013, at Powidz Air Transport Base, Poland. Airmen from the 86th AMXS are here to ensure the aircraft are properly maintained and mission ready. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hailey Haux)

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Master Sgt. Ben Barnett, 435th Contingency Response Group landing zone operations, communicates with the pilots of a C-130J Super Hercules during grass landing training, Oct. 23, 2013, Powidz Air Transport Base, Poland. Practicing grass landings is an essential part of staying mission ready for pilots. Grass landings occur when there is no constructed runway for aircraft to land in a required area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hailey Haux)

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Master Sgt. Ben Barnett, 435th Contingency Response Group landing zone operations, communicates with the pilots of a C-130J Super Hercules during grass landing training, Oct. 23, 2013, Powidz Air Transport Base, Poland. Practicing grass landings is an essential part of staying mission ready for pilots. Grass landings occur when there is no constructed runway for aircraft to land in a required area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hailey Haux)

Pilots from the 37th Airlift Squadron prepare a C-130J Super Hercules for take-off during grass landing training, Oct. 23, 2013, Powidz Air Transport Base, Poland. Practicing grass landings is an essential part of staying mission ready for pilots. Grass landings occur when there is no constructed runway for aircraft to land in a required area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hailey Haux)

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Pilots from the 37th Airlift Squadron prepare a C-130J Super Hercules for take-off during grass landing training, Oct. 23, 2013, Powidz Air Transport Base, Poland. Practicing grass landings is an essential part of staying mission ready for pilots. Grass landings occur when there is no constructed runway for aircraft to land in a required area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hailey Haux)

Airman from the 435th Contingency Response Group jumps out of a C-130J Super Hercules during a theater security cooperation event, Oct. 24, 2013, Powidz Air Transport Base, Poland. Generally, jumpers are used to secure and protect a new landing zone prior to aircraft landing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hailey Haux)

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Airman from the 435th Contingency Response Group jumps out of a C-130J Super Hercules during a theater security cooperation event, Oct. 24, 2013, Powidz Air Transport Base, Poland. Generally, jumpers are used to secure and protect a new landing zone prior to aircraft landing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hailey Haux)

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Airmen from the 37th Airlift Squadron load a pallet onto a C-130J Super Hercules to be dropped for equipment testing during a theater security cooperation event, Oct. 24, 2013, Powidz Air Transport Base, Poland. Airmen from Ramstein Air Base, Germany had a unique opportunity to work hand-in-hand with their Polish counterparts during this event. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hailey Haux)

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Airmen from the 37th Airlift Squadron load a pallet onto a C-130J Super Hercules to be dropped for equipment testing during a theater security cooperation event, Oct. 24, 2013, Powidz Air Transport Base, Poland. Airmen from Ramstein Air Base, Germany had a unique opportunity to work hand-in-hand with their Polish counterparts during this event. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hailey Haux)

POWIDZ AIR TRANSPORT BASE, Poland -- Ramstein Airmen were involved with members of the Polish air force Oct. 14 through today during the fiscal year's first rotation of aircraft to the U.S. Air Force Aviation Detachment in Poland.

U.S. and Polish air force members trained and learned from each other on several airlift functions, including flight controls and aircraft maintenance. As part of the continued partnership, this is the second time this year Airmen from the 37th Airlift Squadron trained with the Polish air force.

"It's great being able to work with our Polish counterparts because they deal with some of the same issues we do," said Capt. Scott Vander Ploeg, 37th Airlift Squadron Av-Det Rotation 14-1 mission commander. "It is nice to be able to help each other out with those issues."

The events that took place were personnel drops, as well as Joint Precision Air Delivery System and Container Delivery System bundle drops. Additionally, air force members teamed for grass-strip landings, low-level routes and observation flights.

"The Polish forces put together their own bundles for us to drop," said Capt. Ben Spain, 37th AS instructor pilot. "This is the first time we have ever done that. It will be good to be able to work together in a different way."

As long-time allies, the U.S. and Poland continue to build partnership capacity together at the Av-Det, and missions like this help to strengthen that important alliance.

"By working with our counterparts, we are able to increase the capabilities of ourselves and our allies around us," Vander Ploeg said. "It's important to do because if we go to war together we already know how things will work."