Ramstein Airmen train with Romanian counterparts

by Airman 1st Class Hailey Haux
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

4/24/2013 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- More than 80 Airmen from Ramstein participated in exercise Carpathian Spring in Romania April 12 through 21.

The exercise was designed for aircrew to receive upgrade training as well as building partnership capacity with Romanians.

"Sequestration has forced us to be more efficient with our training funds and hours," said Capt. Michael Trimble, 37th Airlift Squadron C-130J Super Hercules aircraft commander. "We have come to Romania to maximize the training available to us. They have great airspace and terrain."

While in Romania, executing effective C-130J Super Hercules aircrew training was a priority.

"Aircrew conducted low-level flying and assault landings, while the 435th Contingency Response Group operated drop zones and manned foreign jumpers," said Capt. Bradley Buinicky, 86th Operations Support Squadron chief of current operations. "For members of the 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, it gave them good exposure for doing their job in a different location."

Having been gone for more than a night required several Airmen from the 86th AMXS to ensure the aircraft were properly maintained.

"We were able to interact with the Romanians and see how they do things maintenance wise," said Senior Airman Sean Acebedo, 86th AMXS engine mechanic. "It was a good training mission for us to be able to support."

Romanian military members observed and became familiarized with maintenance, drop zone operations and pallet building, said Buinicky.

"This is our fifth year of training with the 37th [Airlift Squadron]," said Romanian Brig. Gen. Adrian Ciolponea, 6th Special Operation Brigade commander. "It's always a pleasure and we learn a lot from NCOs and officers, pilots and aircrew. They are all professionals in this job."

Condensing what would have been a month or two of training in Germany, the aircrew was able to get all the training needed in a little more than a week in Romania.

Six pilots were upgraded and two loadmasters met all qualifications to drop personnel during the training. Overall more than 250 Romanian paratroopers were airdropped, with about 350 night-vision goggle events over the course of the 10 days.

"It's going very well," said Trimble. "We have had excellent jumps, great training for the aircrew, the weather has been spectacular and the support from the Romanians has been very generous. We have nothing to complain about."