HAW Coalition forces, 173rd AB conduct joint training

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Julius Delos Reyes
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Coalition forces with the Heavy Airlift Wing from Papa Air Base, Hungary, provided C-17 Globemaster III airlift support to U.S. Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team jump week event July 11-14 here.

The jump week was a win-win situation for both the HAW crew members and the 173rd ABCT Soldiers as it served as a joint training event.

"We are here to support the 173rd [ABCT] with personnel airdrop operations," Maj. Jeff Daniels, HAW assistant director of operation. "The HAW has an airdrop capability, and we also need to maintain currency on our tactical skills of aerial delivery."

Meanwhile, the Soldiers conducted the training event to increase their airborne proficiency by performing jumps day and night, said Army Capt. John Tato, 173rd ABCT command training air officer in charge. These jumps included "Hollywood" jumps, where Soldiers only wear the parachute and reserve, and combat equipment jumps, where they also parachute down with their gear.

The 11-crew member team from Papa AB consisted of pilots, loadmasters and support personnel from Bulgaria, Sweden, Norway and the United States.

"The teamwork was phenomenal," Daniels said. "We flew as one team with one mission just like any U.S. mission I've ever flown. The working relationship was very good. It was also a good way of establishing partnership with the 173rd and the U.S. Army."

This was the first time the 173rd ABCT conducted training with the Papa AB unit.

"We currently have several more operations planned with this unit through the rest of the year, and it's a great asset to have," he said. "The C-17s can fit more paratroopers and heavy drop platforms. The HAW provided great support and was very competent and professional in their operations."

HAW provides strategic airlift capability including humanitarian, disaster relief and peacekeeping missions in support of the European Union, United Nations and NATO. It also has the ability to support training and operational missions for the U.S.

"The mission we just conducted was very similar to the missions I've flown in the United States, but it definitely have a few variations," Daniels said. "One was flying with international crew members, which was really fun and rewarding, and being able to work with the 173rd and airdrop in Italy, which was the first time I've ever done this."