One-on-one: 351st EARS pilot in Poland

by Airman 1st Class Kyla Gifford
351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron-Poland Public Affairs

6/11/2014 - POWIDZ AIR BASE, Poland  -- Members of the 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron completed day two of the Baltic Operations Exercise June 10, 2014, here after they completed an aerial refueling mission on a KC-135 Stratotanker with two F-16 C/D Fighting Falcons.

Following the debrief, 1st Lt. Paul Anguita, a 351st EARS pilot from Mascoutah, Illinois, sat down to share his perspective on this year's BALTOPS Exercise.

Q: Where have you been stationed during your career and how long have you been flying the KC-135?

A: I started out at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas, learning how to fly. Then I spent about six months at Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma. Since then I've been stationed at Royal Air Force Mildenhall. I've been flying the KC-135s out of RAF Mildenhall for about a year and a half now.

Q: How long have you been preparing for BALTOPS?

A: This is the 42nd iteration of BALTOPS, so the big picture planning for this exercise has taken place over the past year. For my part, I really started getting involved approximately two weeks ago. At that point, my job within the squadron was to identify crews and complete all the pre-exercise paperwork for those I identified to participate in BALTOPS.

Q: What does your typical day look like during an exercise like this?

A: Depending on the scheduled take-off time for our aircraft, we get to work about three hours early to mission plan and see if anything has changed with the exercise. From there, we take off and fly for however long they need us. The length of our flights can range from two hours to around ten; it all depends on the dynamic of the exercise. It's the same as in a real-world mission; things are always changing and fluctuating.

Q: What makes BALTOPS such a unique exercise?

A: The fact that we get to work with so many different countries. At RAF Mildenhall, we get to train with other countries, but here it's a collaboration of countries coming together to practice and prepare for potential real-world situations. As aerial refuelers, we don't see too much of the naval portion of this exercise, but it's very cool for us to come out to an isolated base, such as Powidz, and fly in and around Poland.

Q: What are some challenges or differences you experience when working at a foreign air base like Powidz?

A: Sometimes the way other countries operate is different from our normal practices. Many countries in Europe have come together and they fly according to International Civil Aviation Organization rules, which provide general guidelines for everyone to follow. However, because they are just guidelines, each country has their own change to them. So when we mission plan to come here to Poland we have to see what kind of unique rules they have, and then cater our flying to their rules. Sometimes we also encounter a small language barrier, which is always interesting to try and overcome. I found that we have to use more basic language, especially when communicating through a radio. In those instances you lose all visual and non-verbal cues and have to choose your words very carefully to make sure you're communicating the correct information.

Q: Based on this and other similar exercises, what are some "lessons learned" that you have experienced?

A: Always be on your toes. You think that you might know how to do something, even after maybe the first or second time, and you'll get into a rhythm. That's when you can become complacent. Especially in a foreign area, by paying attention and keeping focused you will learn all the different ways the foreign forces you're working with do things. Then you can bring that knowledge back to your home squadron. This will enable you to lead others on your next trip to that area.

Q: What are some benefits of being stationed in Europe and participating in these kinds of joint and combined exercises?

A: It's different to fly out of RAF Mildenhall or anywhere in Europe compared to the U.S. because there are extra rules and guidelines we must follow. But you get used to it and it becomes the norm. From my position in the Air Force, I think it's great getting to work with the air forces from many of the different countries nearby. When I was deployed in the Middle East, I worked with many of the other units that we work with now on a regular basis. Exercises like BALTOPS help us improve our interoperability with these other countries, which is incredibly valuable for our training. Also, from a personal standpoint, being stationed in England means I get to travel. Two weeks ago I was in Berlin, and we actually flew over Berlin today. The opportunities to see these places from the air and also get to know the people and cultures during my time on the ground are fantastic.