TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. —
The 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron recently returned from a visit to strengthen partnerships during El Salvador Mobile Training Team (MTT) 23-22.
Approximately 17 members from the 571 MSAS were sent to conduct a Security Force Assistance mission with the Fuerza Aérea Salvadoreña (FAS), Aug. 23 – Sept. 16, Ilopango International Airport, San Salvador.
During the mission, 22 FAS Airmen were trained on the Emergency Management Program (EMP) and Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC).
“This mission was mutually beneficial, not only were we able to provide the FAS with training, and also train 15 of our own air advisors, but we were also able to enhance our interoperability,” said Master Sgt. Ana Mendiola, 571st MSAS air advisor.
According to Mendiola, TCCC and EMP have been specifically emphasized for the Central American region.
“The training is important considering the impacts of climate change, the necessary humanitarian aid and disaster relief response efforts, and the measures that must be taken to ensure El Salvador and other similar countries are able to cope with such volatile circumstances,” she said.
According to Staff Sgt. Milton Del Cid, 571st MSAS Air Advisor, building partnerships is an extremely important part of Security Force Assistance, because it establishes mutual trust.
“Trust cannot be surged, it must be deliberately built in competition, so it can be leveraged in crisis and conflict situations,” he said.
“We spent a lot of time together with the FAS, including sharing various meals together, and competing together on the soccer field,” Del Cid said. “This helped with overall team-building between both Air Forces. Additionally, we visited a local orphanage and spent some time playing soccer with the kids there as well. It was a lot of fun.”
The 571 MSAS mission is to support the United States National Defense Strategy through Security Force Assistance missions such as the El Salvador MTT 23-22.
“We do this by providing highly capable, specifically trained Air Advisors to meet Geographic Combatant Commander objectives,” Mendiola said.
“The ultimate goal is to inspire partner nations to view the United States as their partner of choice. We do this through focused and successful mission execution such as with this most recent example in El Salvador,” she said.
