An F-15 from the Florida Air National Guard's 125th Fighter Wing takes on fuel mid-air during exercise Relampago VIII in Colombia, Aug. 21, 2023. his Colombian and U.S. training opportunity offers real-world benefits to U.S. and partner nation military personnel and the people of Colombia by promoting readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew Matlock)

U.S. Air Force Col. Mathew Volkommer, 612th Air Operations Center commander, helps carry a stretcher with air medical evacuation team members during exercise Angel de los Andes Aug. 14, 2023 in Palanquero, Colombia. The ADLA/Relampago combined exercise honors our promise to be a trusted partner in the region by increasing collaboration, enhancing interoperability, and building partner nation capacity so that we can quickly work together when support is needed.(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Juliana Londono)

An F-15 from the Florida Air National Guard's 125th Fighter Wing takes on fuel mid-air during exercise Relampago VIII in Colombia, Aug. 21, 2023. his Colombian and U.S. training opportunity offers real-world benefits to U.S. and partner nation military personnel and the people of Colombia by promoting readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew Matlock)

U.S. Air Force Col. Mathew Volkommer, 612th Air Operations Center commander, helps carry a stretcher with air medical evacuation team members during exercise Angel de los Andes Aug. 14, 2023 in Palanquero, Colombia. The ADLA/Relampago combined exercise honors our promise to be a trusted partner in the region by increasing collaboration, enhancing interoperability, and building partner nation capacity so that we can quickly work together when support is needed.(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Juliana Londono)

U.S. Air Force Col. Matthew Vollkommer, 612th Air Operations Center commander, served as exercise director for Angel de los Andes and Relampago VIII. He said holding the exercises concurrently gave units the chance to practice executing multiple missions simultaneously, better aligning with how militaries must operate in the real world.

"We developed a strong bond," he said. "Anytime you're thinking about crisis response, it helps to know the people you're working with. You develop a deeper sense of trust that will lead to success."

"The most valuable things that happened with interoperability didn't happen during execution," Vollkommer said. "It was actually during the planning and debrief of what was executed," with both nations sharing valuable lessons learned.

While the two exercises happened concurrently, they had distinct missions. Angel de los Andes was focused on joint humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and combat search and rescue training, while exercise Relampago VIII focused on training defensive counteroperations and air sovereignty. It is one of the largest and most complex air combat exercises in Latin America, said Florida Air National Guard Lt. Col. Daniel Schiller, F-15 pilot and chief of safety at the 125th Fighter Wing.

As an aeromedical evacuation training exercise, Angel de los Andes aimed to save lives. During the exercise's simulated earthquake scenario, U.S. C-17 and HH-60 aircraft flew alongside Colombian helicopters, transporting and treating 50 patients in a large-scale recovery effort.

In another exercise scenario, combined teams of special forces parachuted into simulated enemy territory to rescue friendly troops from danger. Flying aboard an HH-60 helicopter, a Colombian and U.S. crew worked side-by-side, conducting river rescues, overcoming difficult terrain and breaking through the language barrier to succeed in their mission, said Colombian AF Maj. Cesar Trivino, a UH-60 helicopter pilot who participated in Angel de los Andes.

With scenarios unfolding in multiple locations throughout Colombia, overhead imagery was key to assuring safe and accurate exercise missions.

The Air Forces Southern space team partnered with U.S. Space Command's Joint Task Force-Space Defense Commercial Operations cell for Space Domain Awareness to provide overhead imagery of helicopter landing zones, satellite overflight information and space weather prognostics to aid in decision-making, planning and execution.

"Space isn't an afterthought," he said.  

Colombian AF Maj. Gen. Carlos Silva Rueda, Colombian AF second commander, said that by integrating capabilities, the two nations strengthen ties of friendship and cooperation. 

"We have a 200-year tradition of mutual support with [the U.S.], and here we are at the tip of the spear of military technology and operational capabilities," Rueda said.

U.S. Air Force Col. John B. Creel, 12 Air Force deputy commander, expressed how critical this partnership for our future success.

"Our partnership is great," said Creel. "If you're great partners in peacetime, when there is a security issue that comes up later, you're ready to help each other right away."

Colombia Aerospace Force (COLAF) Maj. Gen. Carlos Fernando Silva Rueda (left), Second Commander and Chief of Staff of the COLAF, shakes hands with U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Daniel Schiller (right), 125th Fighter Wing chief of safety, Florida Air National Guard, after a training sortie during exercise Relmpago VIII in Palanquero, Colombia, Aug. 30, 2023. COLAF and U.S. Air Force aircraft fly together and against one another in training using NATO standards to promote seamless interoperability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Bryan Guthrie)

Source: U.S.Air Force