Airmen from the 435th Contingency Response Group at Ramstein AB, Germany, wrapped up a mission in Baku, Azerbaijan, where they mentored members of the Azeri military in airfield and airspace management and base communications. The 10-member building-partnership-capacity cell concluded the week-long exchange on Sept. 8, according to Ramstein’s Sept. 12 release. “Partnerships are critical to our Air Force mission,” said Col. Mark Visconi, 435th CRG commander. He added, “The strengthening of our relationship with the Azeri air force is based upon mutual respect, shared objectives, and a strong desire to learn from one another in order to benefit both nations.” In preparation for the mission, the Ramstein airmen completed an air advisor course that covered topics like advising fundamentals, cross-cultural communication. (Ramstein report by 2nd Lt. Kay M. Nissen)
While U.S. defense officials have spent much of the past decade warning that China is the nation’s pacing threat and its People’s Liberation Army represents an urgent threat in the Indo-Pacific, several defense researchers are skeptical that the PLA has the human capital, the structural ability, or the political appetite…