AFCENT team visits Lebanese Armed Forces

Published July 18, 2008
By Master Sgt. Theresa Shannon
Air Forces Central Public Affairs

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- A four-member team from the US Air Force recently visited with senior leaders from the Lebanese Armed Forces to discuss future cooperation efforts between the two countries' air forces.

In a highly effective one-day trip, the four member U.S. Air Forces Central team traveled to Beirut recently and was comprised of Col. Robert Dunn, 943rd Rescue Group commander, Lt. Col. Theodore Bale, 306th Rescue Squadron commander, and Chief Master Sgt. James Sanchez, 306rd RQS enlisted manager, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. and Capt. Randy Allen, Lebanon Desk Officer in AFCENT Security Cooperation office, who organized the trip.

The meeting stemmed from cooperative efforts of the Lebanese Armed Forces, AFCENT and the Office of Defense Cooperation. The LAF identified key areas for future cooperation and partnership, such as medical support and search and rescue.

Since LAF has a small air force, most of the US support to LAF is to improve ground combat capabilities, and the Army has taken the lead on this, said Captain Allen. However the USAF does have exceptional medical and SAR capabilities that it can assist the LAF in developing.

This is the first time the USAF has engaged with LAF to improve their capabilities since the US withdrew all US military forces in 1984 as a result of terrorist bombings.

Several ideas were discussed at the meeting and tentative plans were made to bring senior LAF observers to Exercise ANGEL THUNDER 2008, a two-week combat search and rescue exercise at Davis-Monthan AFB in late November.

After meeting with senior LAF members, the team was given a tour of Beirut Air Base and met with base leadership and junior pilots.

"It was great to meet the Lebanese Airmen; they were highly professional and they take good care of their equipment and facilities," said Captain Allen. "It is clear that they take a lot of pride in their country and serving in its air force."

According to Captain Allen the US government has granted $378 million to improve the LAF's capabilities since 2006. Much of the assistance will be spent on training. AFCENT/A5 can advise the LAF on which USAF courses will best suit their training needs, and the AFCENT/A5 can set up tailored 1-2 week engagements in which the LAF delegations come to the United States or USAF delegations visits Lebanon to share information and build relationships.

"After all the hardship they have endured over the past several decades, the Lebanese are remarkably upbeat and optimistic about the future," Captain Allen said. "They seemed very eager to team with the US Air Force on more engagement events and I think we have an incredible opportunity to help an extremely important regional partner."

Lebanon visit