Team Aviano welcomes Project Partnership with open arms

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Taylor L. Marr
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Team Aviano is always trying new ways to educate and share experiences with their Italian counterparts. Project partnership is one way Airmen of Aviano and Vicenza joined forces to do just that.

Airmen from the 7th Weather Squadron Detachment 3 at Vicenza, Italy, take one week a year to share with their G3 Southern Europe Task Force Italian counterparts how the American military works, from flight simulators to the control tower. 

The week showed G3 SETAF how to stay safe during a tactical vehicle roll over training, repeal from a building or fly an airplane.

"These are our comrades in arms," said Staff Sgt. Mario Luna, 7th Weather Squadron, Det 3 airborne weather forecaster. "They may be a different service but the Italian mission is very similar to ours when it comes to the war on terror. This week helped them take what they have learned and make it better for the whole force."

As part of Project Partnership, 11 G3 SETAF and nine Air Force members visited various organizations at Aviano.

The first stop was the 31st Operation Support Squadron, Weather Flight, where the group learned how Aviano does business when it comes to weather. The SETAF were educated on how far away from the base they can detect weather information, and how it is sent up to the 555th and 510th Fighter Squadrons to determine if the weather is too bad to fly. They also learned how the radar system works and ways to improve their own technology.

"I am very excited to get back and share what I have learned today with my colleagues," said Italian Master Sgt. Paolo Negri, G3 SETAF member and an avalanche forecaster for the Alp mountains.

The next stop was to the 555th FS where they learned and tested the F-16 Fighting Falcon flight simulator. Everyone had a chance to use the simulator and learn about how the aircraft works and why the Air Force uses them.

"It a good experience for me to share our knowledge and what we do on a day-to-day basis," said 1st Lt. Brian Faughn, 555th FS F-16 pilot. "Anything we can do to further relation is a good thing. They can explain to their neighbors what is going on and that we are trying to do good work."

The last stop for the Project Partnership team was the control tower. The G3 SETAF observed how the air traffic controllers complete the mission. Every day, military airplanes take off and land all over the world. It is the job of air traffic controllers to monitor these aircraft in order to prevent accidents.

"It was very interesting and enjoyable," said Italian Capt. Manuel Savio, G3 SETAF an avalanche forecaster for the Alp mountains. "This is something I have never seen before and you can see the whole base. It was pretty neat."

In addition, the project helps foster good relation between the Americans and Italians.

"This experience was incredible, it was fantastic. I have learned so many new things," said Italian Sgt. Maj. Ennio Zavajuo, G3 SETAF an avalanche forecaster for the Alp mountains.