621 CRW builds partnerships in Colombia

by 621st Contingency Response Wing

12/3/2015 - TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A mobile training team comprised of approximately 18 members from the 621st Contingency Response Wing's 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron stationed here recently returned from a building partner capacity operation at the Comando Aereo de Transporte Militar in Bogota, Colombia.

Building on lessons from previous missions to Colombia, the MSAS's Air Advisors continued to conduct classroom and hands-on instruction while strengthening relationships with the partner nation's military.

The instructions focused on operational mobility and command and control capabilities of the Colombian Air Force, focusing on aeromedical evacuation, airdrop cargo rigging and loading, aircrew life support equipment maintenance, aircrew survival program, maintenance quality assurance program and air traffic control proficiency.

"With each mission comes unique challenges," said Maj. Adrian Martin, 571st MSAS air advisor. "This mission highlights the successes the COLAF has made since the MSAS's most recent mission in early March."  

According to Martin, the biggest victories achieved were in the areas of maintenance quality assurance, airdrop operations and Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape training. During the maintenance quality assurance program the MSAS found that the COLAF's maintenance quality assurance program had made great strides and progress in the areas of tool control, facility cleanliness and quality control since the MSAS's last mission, less than six months prior.

According to Master Sgt. Troy Daland, 571 MSAS air advisor, during his two day evaluation, he observed tremendous improvements from previous assessments.

"The COLAF is moving in the right direction with developing training and obtaining equipment to conduct survival training," Daland said.

Tech. Sgt. Bryan Rudquist, and air advisor assigned to the 571 MSAS said he was immediately able to build a level of rapport with COLAF students and felt a strong level of confidence during the engagement.

"The COLAF students are very excited to learn more about USAF processes and procedures in order to standardize their own," Rudquist said.

Air Mobility Command's MSASs execute the command's building partner capacity missions. The 571st MSAS is aligned with and supports U.S. Southern Command's engagements, while the 818th MSAS at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., supports U.S. Africa Command. AMC's building partnerships capability resides in a Contingency Response Wing structure and the 621st CRW is the overarching organization responsible for the administration, training and support of each MSAS.

Each MSAS has more than 70 technical experts, many with previous air advisor experience, representing nearly 35 Air Force specialties.

"The 571st MSAS continues to deploy its best, staying committed to continued cooperation and building partnerships with the COLAF," Martin said. "Together, we are creating lasting relationships that benefit both our nations."