Kuwait, U.S. forces exchange job expertise

Kuwait air force service members toured U.S. Air Force mission capabilities at Ali Al Salem Air Base and Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, Sept. 24 and 25.

The tour was a subject matter expert exchange that allowed U.S. and Kuwait military forces to build and shape relationships by sharing knowledge and experience with each other.

On Sept. 24, the 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron hosted six Kuwaiti air force loadmasters and seven logistics experts from the Arizona Air National Guard. Airmen with the 386th ELRS discussed and displayed passenger terminal operations to the host nation military members.

The next day, the 407th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Flight at AAJAB hosted three Kuwaiti air force loadmasters and seven Arizona ANG members to demonstrate cargo processing, pallet buildup, loading of cargo and more.

“The goals accomplished during this event were U.S. Air Force air transportation specialists exchanging reception, staging, onward movement and integration with the host nation counterparts while leading to a better understanding, communication and potential future engagements with the Kuwait air force,” said Maj. Kenneth Simon, 386th ELRS director of operations.

Simon represented the 386th ELRS throughout the exchange.

“Key takeaways for Kuwait and the U.S. are better understanding of each other’s systems and capabilities,” said Edward Tatge, Air Forces Central Command A5. “This translates to the U.S. knowing where to and on what topics to focus future events, and the Kuwaitis have a benchmark to base their air mobility activities.”

U.S. Air Force service members have been in Kuwait since 1990, when the U.S. and its coalition partners, such as Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and Egypt, condemned Iraq’s invasion and occupation of Kuwait. The U.S. and its coalition partners thus launched Operation Desert Shield and subsequently Operations Desert Storm, or more commonly known as the Gulf War.