RAMSTEIN, Germany – In early December, NATO’s Allied Air Command sent Mobile Training Teams to the United Arab Emirates and Morocco to conduct training with these Partner Countries.  The visit to the Joint Command Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, focused on the Air Operations Planning Process. It was the first of this kind Allied Air Command has ever conducted with this Istanbul Cooperation Initiative Partner.  The visit to the 2nd Royal Moroccan Air Force Base at Meknes, Morocco, a member of the Mediterranean Dialogue Partnership Framework, was conducted to impart knowledge on Joint Terminal Attack Controller concepts.

"Mobile Training Teams are a critical tool in NATO’s Security Cooperation apparatus,” said German Lieutenant Colonel Jochen Rosendahl, Team Chief for the United Arab Emirates visit.  "Requested by the Nation and funded by NATO we are building the partnership with the United Arab Emirates Air Force; while this enhances our relationship at the working level it allows them to further enhance their overall capabilities as a NATO Partner,” Rosendahl added.  

"Especially those Mobile Training Teams involving cross domain capabilities like that of Joint Terminal Attack Controllers help establish strategic ties with key partners outside of the traditional alliance,” said Lieutenant Colonel  James "Sniper” Krischke, lead Instructor for the Mobile Training Team to Morocco. "Sharing NATO’s Tactical Air Control Party expertise with our Moroccan counterparts fosters a truly joint approach to deterrence and multinational peacekeeping,” he added.

Allied Air Command Mobile Training Teams consist of seasoned and experienced specialists and subject matter experts. These teams are a significant tool to enable NATO’s Military Partnership programme overall intent of developing, maintaining or strengthening NATO-Partners relations with a view to achieving mutual trust and confidence between military authorities.  Through these and future mobile training team visits to the United Arab Emirates and Morocco, Allied Air Command remains committed to offering opportunities that enable NATO Partners as a more ready and postured force, enhancing regional security and stability.

With the expert visits to Morocco and the United Arab Emirates, the 2018 visit cycle for Allied Air Command Mobile Training Teams draws to close after providing another major contribution to Cooperative Security, one of NATO’s core tasks.