MSAS Airmen engage with Belize Defence Force

  • Published
  • By Captain Shawn D. Pennie
  • 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A mobile training team of Airmen assigned to the 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron recently conducted training with the Belize Defence Force Air Wing in Ladyville, Belize, Nov. 28 through Dec. 15, 2018.

The MSAS’s training focused on aiding the BDF-AW to increase their capacity to conduct air mobility and transportation operations to improve humanitarian, disaster relief and regional stability operations.

The sixteen-member team performed assessments and conducted courses in aircraft maintenance, aircrew flight equipment, airfield operations, civil engineering, flying operations, fuels, radio communications and supply.

"We received the opportunity to work with a partner nation that loves what they do and are motivated to improve their processes,” said Major Noelle Deruyter, MTT mission commander assigned to the 571st MSAS. “It is encouraging to see how the BDF-AW has grown in maturity with each successive engagement. The time is well spent when the students and the members of the MSAS work together to implement change throughout the Air Wing. These process improvements make the day-to-day operations smoother for the BDF and give us the satisfaction of a job well-done.”

The training included both classroom instruction and hands on demonstrations utilizing the BDF-AW’s personnel, aircraft, and equipment.

“The BDF-AW’s highly motivated maintainers are appreciative of the team’s efforts to aid them in developing a more self-sufficient training program,” said Master Sgt. Raphael Romero, 571st MSAS aircraft maintenance senior air advisor. “They are eager to implement these new processes as they have demonstrated in the past with the application of other processes we’ve aided them with.”

Belize Defence Force 1st Lt. Ciardi Glenn said the importance of this joint training further strengthens the relationships built between the United States and the BDF-AW.

“As you can see, we are a very small team. As a result, our wing is tasked with a lot of responsibility, especially dealing with both rotary and fixed wing capabilities,” Ciardi said. “We appreciate all the time and effort the MSAS has put into this training, and I’m sure in the future it will be apparent in our operations and capabilities.”

The 571st MSAS is charged with strengthening partner nations’ capabilities and the squadron trains, advises and assists partner nations in developing Airpower capabilities. The unit includes Spanish-speaking Airmen and is aligned with the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility