USMTM pilots serve as instructors in Saudi Arabia Published Aug. 14, 2010 By Caitlin Fairchild Nellis Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- While some regard diplomacy as the realm of ambassadors and the United Nations, fostering relationships between the United States and its allies is a role that many take part in. Filling that role are six pilots sent to Saudi Arabia for a year to serve as instructors for the United States Military Training Mission Air Force Division. Imbedded at several Royal Saudi Air Force bases, the pilots train, advise and assist Saudi Arabian pilots in their operations, all to support the common interest of both nations. The Airmen say that some knowledge of Arabic is hugely beneficial. "It helps to develop friendships -- it builds respect between us," said Captain Reggie Ramsey, F-15 S advisor for the 55 Fighter Squadron at Khamis Mushayt. These operations have taken five of the USMTM pilots and their Saudi Arabian counterparts to Nellis Air Force Base for 40 days as they participate in the Red Flag 10-4 and Green Flag 10-9 training missions. While this is the third Red Flag exercise for the RSAF, this will be their first participation in a Green Flag exercise. "This is not their first time coming to the United States, but we are here to guide them along in how the United States Air Force does business," said Lt. Col. Brett Provinsky, a F-15 S advisor for the 6th Squadron in Khamis Mushayt. "They're here to learn from the variety of international players and integrate as much as they can." Prior to the Red Flag mission, the 92nd Operational Squadron in Dharan, Saudi Arabia, the lead F-15 S squadron, completed a two-week practice exercise, replicating the Red Flag schedule in order to prepare for the official exercise at Nellis. The exercise also allowed them to practice with new equipment they received earlier this year. The new equipment, Fighter Data Link, allows information to pass digitally between pilots and the Advance Targeting Pod, which enables pilots to better identify targets. "We trained with the equipment frequently over in Saudi Arabia to make sure that they could effectively use it here during Red Flag" Captain Ramsey said. The Airmen have augmented the Red Flag and Green Flag missions with other lessons. In between exercises, they taught the RSAF pilots the United States air traffic control system and conducted independent low-altitude training missions in the skies over Utah, Arizona and California. The pilots' year-long tenure in Saudi Arabia has also served as a learning experience for the pilots of USMTM. "Working and interacting with a foreign air force has definitely been eye-opening," said Maj. Anson Stephens, an F-15 S advisor for the 92nd Operational Squadron in Dharan. "The language barrier is a challenge, but it helps make you a better instructor." The USMTM Airmen and the RSAF will return to Saudi Arabia Aug. 20 in eight F-15 S jets, with support from several U.S. tanker flights, to continue their work as liaisons.
