Oregon ANG begins training in Romania

by Senior Airman Dylan Nuckolls
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

7/9/2015 - CAMPIA TURZII, Romania -- U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 142nd Fighter Wing, Oregon Air National Guard, Portland, Oregon, commenced training with the Romanian air force as part of a theater security package of F-15C Eagle fighter aircraft deployed to Campia Turzii, Romania, July 6, 2015.

More than 200 Airmen from various active duty and ANG units comprise the 123rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron which is serving in the TSP as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve along with NATO allies.

"Our mission in Romania is to support Operation Atlantic Resolve," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Sean Sullivan, 123rd EFS commander. "It is to show the United States' dedication to security, stability and peace in Europe and to work on interoperability with our NATO allies."

The 123rd EFS took over as the lead unit of the TSP from the 159th EFS from the 125th FW, Florida Air National Guard, Jacksonville, Fla. The 159th EFS arrived in Europe in March with 12 F-15Cs to start the ANG TSP in the European theater.

"The U.S. Air Force's forward presence in Europe, augmented by a rotational force like the TSP, allows us to work with our allies to develop and improve ready air forces capable of maintaining regional security," said U.S. Air Force Gen. Frank Gorenc, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa commander, in a previous news release.

These TSP-type of deployments are not new to the Air Force as fighter squadrons have been deploying like this to the Pacific region since 2004.

"It is very important for us to exercise that capability with our NATO allies, and I think we can all benefit from this experience," said U.S. ANG Maj. Gen. Eric Vollmecke, ANG assistant to the USAFE-AFAFRICA commander, in a previous news release concerning the 159th EFS' deployment to Leeuwarden Air Base, Netherlands. "Our NATO allies are very capable aviators and have great air forces. There are many things we can learn from them, especially from their innovation. They may not have the resources that the U.S. has, but they have done an incredible job of maintaining an impressive level of readiness."