2 New Messages
Digest #4762
Messages
Mon Jul 29, 2013 2:48 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.usafe.af.mil/news/s
U.S. Air Forces Europe - Air Forces Africa
July 29, 2013
U.S. Airmen jump with Bulgarians during two-week flying training
By Airman 1st Class Trevor Rhynes
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
====
"The training we're doing here is essential and improves the working relationship between NATO, U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa and the U.S. government. We come and help the Bulgarians . ith their jump training and it builds a relationship as well as strengthens their participation with NATO."
====
PLOVDIV, Bulgaria: More than 600 Airmen from the 86th Airlift and 435th Air Ground Operations wings and members of the Bulgarian armed forces participated in a two-week flying training deployment called Thracian Summer, July 7 through 21.
Thracian Summer is an opportunity for the militaries of both nations to train together and strengthen partnerships. Training in Bulgaria also gives members of Team Ramstein the opportunity to get training they don't normally receive in Germany.
"Bulgarian airspace allows us to fly in various terrains at low altitudes and practice solid formation flying," said Maj. Jon Cato, 37th Airlift Squadron pilot. "In other places, whether in Germany or in the U.S., there's a lot of restrictions to the airspace that aren't present here."
Training with the Bulgarians allows both nations to fulfill training requirements that benefit each other.
"This is the fifth time in the last four years we've been able to do this training, it's very important training for us," said Bulgarian Col. Iavor Mateev, Ministry of Defense paratrooper. "This training gives our special forces and conventional paratroopers the chance to practice day and night jumps."
"The training we're doing here is essential and improves the working relationship between NATO, U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa and the U.S. government," Cato said. "We come and help the Bulgarians with their jump training and it builds a relationship as well as strengthens their participation with NATO."
Members of the 435th Contingency Response Group facilitated jump training for the Bulgarian paratroopers during Thracian Summer.
"It's all about building partnership capacity, showing them our standards and learning about how they do business," said Master Sgt. Stephen Nelson, 435th CRG contingency air traffic controller. "We've learned how to use each other's parachutes and exchanged jump wings. The training has been great."
In addition to the training opportunities, the two-week deployment provided an opportunity to enhance the existing partnership between the U.S. and Bulgaria.
...
==============================
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==============================
U.S. Air Forces Europe - Air Forces Africa
July 29, 2013
U.S. Airmen jump with Bulgarians during two-week flying training
By Airman 1st Class Trevor Rhynes
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
====
"The training we're doing here is essential and improves the working relationship between NATO, U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa and the U.S. government. We come and help the Bulgarians . ith their jump training and it builds a relationship as well as strengthens their participation with NATO."
====
PLOVDIV, Bulgaria: More than 600 Airmen from the 86th Airlift and 435th Air Ground Operations wings and members of the Bulgarian armed forces participated in a two-week flying training deployment called Thracian Summer, July 7 through 21.
Thracian Summer is an opportunity for the militaries of both nations to train together and strengthen partnerships. Training in Bulgaria also gives members of Team Ramstein the opportunity to get training they don't normally receive in Germany.
"Bulgarian airspace allows us to fly in various terrains at low altitudes and practice solid formation flying," said Maj. Jon Cato, 37th Airlift Squadron pilot. "In other places, whether in Germany or in the U.S., there's a lot of restrictions to the airspace that aren't present here."
Training with the Bulgarians allows both nations to fulfill training requirements that benefit each other.
"This is the fifth time in the last four years we've been able to do this training, it's very important training for us," said Bulgarian Col. Iavor Mateev, Ministry of Defense paratrooper. "This training gives our special forces and conventional paratroopers the chance to practice day and night jumps."
"The training we're doing here is essential and improves the working relationship between NATO, U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa and the U.S. government," Cato said. "We come and help the Bulgarians with their jump training and it builds a relationship as well as strengthens their participation with NATO."
Members of the 435th Contingency Response Group facilitated jump training for the Bulgarian paratroopers during Thracian Summer.
"It's all about building partnership capacity, showing them our standards and learning about how they do business," said Master Sgt. Stephen Nelson, 435th CRG contingency air traffic controller. "We've learned how to use each other's parachutes and exchanged jump wings. The training has been great."
In addition to the training opportunities, the two-week deployment provided an opportunity to enhance the existing partnership between the U.S. and Bulgaria.
...
==============================
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.co
To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups
==============================
Tue Jul 30, 2013 6:10 am (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://yle.fi/uutiset/us_criti
Finnish Broadcasting Company/YLE News
July 27, 2013
U.S. official criticises Russia for meddling in Finland's NATO debate
James J. Townsend, a senior defence official responsible for U.S. policy on NATO and Europe, has criticised Russian interference in Finland’s possible NATO membership.
James J. Townsend, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for European and NATO Policy, spoke frankly on a number of NATO-related issues on a visit to Finland.
With most foreign troops to be pulled from Afghanistan during the next year, Townsend asked for Finland's continued support in the strife-torn country.
“We’re hoping that the international community, Finland and NATO members, NATO partners, all of us will remain engaged and in support of the Afghan government,†Townsend said.
The U.S. official is also well aware of the debate around possible Finnish NATO membership...
Russia, however, has threatened countermeasures, should Finland join NATO.
“It was disappointing to hear from Russian officials in this day and age. This is a time when nations should feel free to join whatever institution they feel is important to them,†Townsend commented.
Showing off military muscle
In mid-July, Russia staged its biggest military exercises since Soviet times. It will flex its military muscle again in September in joint military drills with Belarus, designed against possible U.S. threats.
“They seem to like to exercise, not just to make sure their troops are trained, but also to send a signal to the neighbourhood that they are still here, and that they are still watching things across their border. And that's one way they signal that, which I think is a shame,†said Townsend.
Townsend said that the US is not averse to sending out signals of its own.
“I think also it is important for us to signal to Russia or anyone else that the United States has very close friends up here,†he concluded.
Finnish Broadcasting Company/YLE News
July 27, 2013
U.S. official criticises Russia for meddling in Finland's NATO debate
James J. Townsend, a senior defence official responsible for U.S. policy on NATO and Europe, has criticised Russian interference in Finland’s possible NATO membership.
James J. Townsend, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for European and NATO Policy, spoke frankly on a number of NATO-related issues on a visit to Finland.
With most foreign troops to be pulled from Afghanistan during the next year, Townsend asked for Finland's continued support in the strife-torn country.
“We’re hoping that the international community, Finland and NATO members, NATO partners, all of us will remain engaged and in support of the Afghan government,†Townsend said.
The U.S. official is also well aware of the debate around possible Finnish NATO membership...
Russia, however, has threatened countermeasures, should Finland join NATO.
“It was disappointing to hear from Russian officials in this day and age. This is a time when nations should feel free to join whatever institution they feel is important to them,†Townsend commented.
Showing off military muscle
In mid-July, Russia staged its biggest military exercises since Soviet times. It will flex its military muscle again in September in joint military drills with Belarus, designed against possible U.S. threats.
“They seem to like to exercise, not just to make sure their troops are trained, but also to send a signal to the neighbourhood that they are still here, and that they are still watching things across their border. And that's one way they signal that, which I think is a shame,†said Townsend.
Townsend said that the US is not averse to sending out signals of its own.
“I think also it is important for us to signal to Russia or anyone else that the United States has very close friends up here,†he concluded.
