LATACUNGA, Ecuador - Members of the Kentucky National Guard took part in a four-day air assault training exchange with the Ecuadorian 9th Special Forces Brigade as part of the Department of War National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program, or SPP, Aug. 18-21.
The Soldiers and Airmen with expertise in aviation, pathfinding and air assault were sent to the 9th Special Forces Brigade headquarters in Latacunga, where the Ecuadorian Special Forces train in pathfinding, mountain warfare, airborne operations, combat diving and their elite “commando school” course.
“Although the objective of this mission was to be a subject matter expert exchange concerning planning for air assault operations, the primary mission of any SPP exchange is to build a better relationship with our state partners,” said U.S. Army Maj. Ryan Hubbs, inspector general of the Kentucky National Guard.
Hubbs served as the officer in charge for the exchange and provided expertise as a ranger and air assault subject matter expert during the mission.
“To that end, the exchange went fantastic. So often, we don’t get that chance to conduct joint planning, even with our own sister services. The passion that they had and the level of seriousness with which they executed the planning was also great to see,” Hubbs said.
The training exchange consisted of six Soldiers from the Kentucky Army National Guard and one Airman from the Kentucky Air National Guard. Most had previously participated in SPP exchanges in Ecuador, and were excited and honored to participate in another exchange.
“Learning to work together, sharing ideas and understanding one another’s perspectives on the battlefield is my favorite part of [these missions],” said U.S. Air Force 1st Sgt. Oscar Cerna of the 123rd Security Forces Squadron.
Cerna served as a subject matter expert to teach the U.S. Air Force's capabilities in supporting air assault operations. His career began in the Army, where he attended Sabalauski Air Assault School at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
The training exchange began in the classroom, where Kentucky air assault subject matter experts briefed the Ecuadorian service members on the details of how the U.S. Army conducts air assault missions. The Ecuadorian cohort consisted of service members from the Army, Air Force and Navy, with participants being members of their respective branch’s special forces. Once briefed on U.S. Air Assault operations, they discussed how they differ in their own countries because of the distinct nature of their defense operations, unique climate and terrain and different equipment.
U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael Richardson and Capt. Sean Lough, both rotary wing pilots in the 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade of the Kentucky Army National Guard, exchanged flight operation considerations with the Ecuadorian cohort in the context of air assault, working together to compare and contrast similarities while also bridging the gap between aviators and infantrymen in air assault operations.
“I find that troops are usually interested to learn why helicopter pilots fly the way we do, and this was true of the soldiers we worked with in Ecuador,” Richardson said. “It was heartening to see the Ecuadorian [service members] embrace the challenge of air assault so quickly. I was very impressed with their seriousness and their motivation, and I believe the partnership is a great benefit to both our organizations. I learned just as much or more from them as they did from us.”
After training together on planning and operation considerations, Hubbs created a practical exercise in which service members would work together in groups to plan an air assault operation using the skills they had sharpened together. In the end, both groups skillfully created complex, effective and actionable air assault missions working with service members from every branch.
After covering air assault planning, the class moved outdoors to train on creating landing zones, maintaining security and embarking and disembarking from rotary aircraft. After completing repetitions, service members from every branch felt confident in their ability to support air assault operations on the ground and in the air. Each member of the team moved quickly and with explosive force and skill every step of the way, integrating jointly with other branches and partner nation soldiers as a cohesive unit.
“I am always blown away by the professionalism and technical expertise of the Ecuadorian military. Working with the special forces, we got to see their very best, and they did not disappoint,” Hubbs said. “They are fit, technically and tactically proficient, and work extremely hard to increase their abilities. Anytime they sing the songs of their country or sound off, they do so in a loud and thunderous fashion, showing pride in their unit and in their country. We should strive to emulate this in our own military.”
“The seeds of [the Kentucky National Guard’s] knowledge have certainly been planted in fertile soil,” said Ecuadorian Capt. Darwin Venegas of the 9th Special Forces Brigade. “We are the best, and so is the U.S. Military. Together, we’re even better.”
At the conclusion of the event, Ecuadorian service members were presented with certificates for the training, and the 9th Special Forces Brigade thanked the Kentucky National Guard in a ceremony held on post.
“Having the United States here gives us strength,” said Ecuadorian Col. Walter Machado, commander of the 9th Special Forces Brigade. “We’re honored to have hosted [the Kentucky National Guard] and we look forward to the next time we can train together.”
Kentucky's partnership with Ecuador began in 1995 in an effort to cultivate bilateral defense relationships and interoperability between the two nations.
The State Partnership Program began in 1993 with 13 partner nations, and now facilitates regular training and information exchanges with 115 partner nations. These exchanges cover a variety of disciplines, aiming to foster enduring, cost-effective relationships between the United States and partner countries, increase regional security and advance national interests and foreign policy goals.