German air force integral part of RF-A 08-3

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jill Victor
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  The leadership function of integrating aircraft, maintenance personnel and equipment from three different wings geographically separated in Germany has been the most challenging aspect for the detachment commander of the visiting German Air Force.

"The training in Alaska has been a great opportunity and well worth the effort", said Oberstleutnant Oliver Eckstein, rank equivalent to a lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force.

First-line maintainer,Oberfeldwebel Mike Braun, rank equivalent to a master sergeant in the USAF, shares that the 13-hour work day is the only difference from a maintenance perspective during RED-FLAG-Alaska 08-3.

"A normal work day is eight or nine hours in Germany," said Sergeant Braun.

The aircraft maintenance procedures are the same in Alaska as they are Germany.

The German Air Force has deployed sixteen Tornado aircraft to Eielson Air Force base to participate in RF-A 08-3.

The Tornadoes are equipped with different sensor packages for their specialized role. Eight aircraft are assigned to conduct training in the Suppression of Enemy Air Defense, six aircraft are designated for the air-to-ground training and two are participating in reconnaissance.

RED-FLAG-Alaska has provided a great opportunity for the German forces to participate in a joint environment, said Colonel Eckstein. Integrating with other units to evaluate tactics as well as share German tactics is a valuable experience. The exercise provides a building block for tactical practices in a realistic scenario.

The operations tempo for the German Air Force is high; flying 24 sorties daily. Flying that many sorties a day puts a strain on the maintainers, said the detachment commander. Being able to accomplish that many sorties is a testament to the motivated, hard working maintainers.

At the conclusion of RF-A 08-3, the German forces will have participated in training activities for five weeks in Alaska. Three weeks prior to RF-A 08-3, the GAF engaged in Distant Frontier training, practicing low-level skills, logging more than 300 hours and flying 213 sorties.

Colonel Eckstein said, "I am proud to have such a great group of hard working people. To sustain a detachment with sixteen aircraft from Germany is not an easy achievement."