RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany - About 50 U.S. Servicemembers and four aircraft from several U.S. bases and Europe will participate in the AeroExpo Marrakech 2010, an international air/trade show in Morocco Jan. 27-30.
Static-display aircraft at the event will include two F-16C Fighting Falcons from the 169th Fighter Wing, South Carolina Air National Guard, S.C.; a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 151st Air Refueling Wing, Utah Air National Guard; and a C-130J Super Hercules, from the 86th Airlift Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
Maj. Gen. Ronald Ladnier, commander of Air Forces Africa (17th Air Force), and Maj. Gen. Brian Tarbet, adjutant general of the Utah National Guard, are scheduled to attend the trade show along with Maj. Gen. Stanhope Spears, the adjutant general of the South Carolina National Guard.
These units will support U.S. Africa Command and its air component, AFAFRICA, which has been strengthening cooperation with Moroccan forces since both commands activated in October 2008.
AFAFRICA traces its heritage, including the 17th Air Force designation, back to its origins at Rabat, Morocco, in 1953. The unit was also headquartered at Wheelus AB, Libya from 1956-1963 before moving to Germany.
The Utah National Guard has forged a partnership through the National Guard's State Partnership Program with Morocco for more than six years. They supported six different activities in 2009, including medical, engineering, disaster preparedness, and medical exercises and activities.