MSAS air advisors complete first joint military seminar in Guatemala

by Tech. Sgt. Jesse Baehm

571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron

3/20/2014 - LA AURORA AIR BASE, Guatemala -- The 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron concluded the first joint military training at La Aurora Air Base, Guatemala, with members of the Guatemalan Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Mar. 15.

Fourteen members from the 571st MSAS mobile training team from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., trained 51 partner nation students in the areas of communications, aircraft maintenance, intelligence and aircraft security using a variety of hands-on activities and classroom instruction. These courses, designed by the mobility advisors, were engineered to increase interoperability between the United States and Guatemala to tackle shared regional security challenges.

"The MSAS plays an essential role in the Air Force's core function of building partnerships," said Capt. Jarret Flexman, 571st MSAS mission commander. "These vital partnerships are essential in creating cooperative solutions for regional challenges."

The training included high frequency radio capabilities demonstration. Additionally, the hands-on training included a seminar on secure radio programming that enabled more effective joint mission command and control for the partner nations. The joint Guatemalan training was validated with demonstrations of their newly obtained radio programming skills.

"With this training, I'll be a force multiplier for my home unit at the strategic and tactical level," said Capt. Francisco Roberto Ruiz Cifuentes, Guatemalan Operations officer.

Aside from the communications seminar, the MSAS team helped the partner nation improve aircraft security, maintenance and intelligence analysis procedures. One of the MSAS recommendations implemented by the Guatemalan air force security element was to enhance force protection methods for key flying assets. Guatemala's newly acquired mobility skills will improve continuity and expanded cooperation between U.S. and Guatemalan relations.

"This engagement was successful because we established a relationship of trust for a long-term partnership," said Master Sgt. Sidney De Leon, MSAS team sergeant. "While this is the first MSAS mission to involve all services of a partner nation, it represents a successful step forward for USSOUTHCOM's objectives in the region. MSAS air advisors are a key asset in the Air Force's enduring building partner capacity mission, linking each successive engagement with previous visits to achieve freedom, stability and prosperity in the region."