NY Air National Guard sending 80 Airmen to train to train with Brazilian Air Force

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An Air National Guard HH-60 from the 106th Rescue Wing is loaded on board a C-17 from the 105th Airlift Wing in 2017. Both wings will participate in training with the Brazilian Air Force this month.

LATHAM, NY (08/17/2021) (readMedia)-- Eighty New York Air National Guard Airmen will head to Brazil on August 19 to take part in a week-long Brazilian Air Force exercise called Operation Tapio.

The two-week deployment is being conducted as part of the training partnership between the Brazilian military and the New York National Guard which was formalized in March of 2019.

Airmen based in Niagara Falls, Newburgh, and Westhampton Beach will be part of the mission.

The Airmen are expected to return on August 29.

The training exchange is part of the National Guard's State Partnership Program which pairs state National Guard's with the militaries of countries around the globe.

"The partnership is an opportunity to learn from one another, exchange military skills and experiences, share defense knowledge, build the readiness of our forces, and improve operational effectiveness, together," Navy Admiral Craig Faller, the commander of United States Southern Command said when the partnership deal was signed.

The New York National Guard will deploy two HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters assigned to the 106th Rescue Wing based at Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach on Long Island, along with maintenance personnel and Para rescue Airmen.

The HH-60G is employed to recover Airmen forced down behind enemy lines or to evacuate casualties. It is based upon the Army's Black Hawk helicopter but has additional fuel tanks and the ability to refuel in flight.

The aircraft and Airmen from the 106th will be transported to Brazil by C-17s flown by the 105th Airlift Wing, which is based at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh.

The 105th Airlift Wing routinely moves critical military cargo and personnel around the world in support of the Department of Defense.

A Tactical Air Control Party from the 107th Attack Wing, based at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, will round out the team.

"Since New York was selected for a formal partnership with Brazil in 2019, we have built an outstanding relationship with the Brazilian military," said Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General of New York.

"Training with the Brazilian Air Force is a tremendous opportunity for the New York National Guard, " Shields added. " Our Airmen will get great hands on training, learn how to work with an allied military, and at the same time help develop enduring links between the armed forces of Brazil and the United States."

Participating in the exercise allows the 105th Airlift Wing to train while helping to fore a relationship with Brazil, said Lt. Col. Ryan Dannemann, the commander of the 105th Airlift Wing's 137th Airlift Squadron.

"Opportunities like Operation Tapio are what make these state partnerships come alive and worthwhile, and we are thrilled to play an active role supporting our State and Nation's bid to extend the hand of friendship, while strengthening this strategic partnership,"Dannemann said.

"This exercise will continue the great work already underway between the 106th Rescue Wing and the Brazilians," said Col. Jeffery Cannet, the 106th Rescue Wing's Operations Group commander.

"We look forward to bringing our expertise in combat rescue to the exercise, and we aer eager to learn about each other culturally and operationally," Cannet added.

The Brazilian Air Force has conducted Operation Tapio annually since 2018. This year it will involve about 1,000 members of the Brazilian Air Force along with elements from the Brazilian Army and Navy.

The exercise scenario postulates an irregular military force operating within Brazil against the government.

The New York Air National Guard contingent will participate by conducting Combat Search and Rescue missions in conjunction with Brazilian aircraft. They will fly simulated rescue and casualty evacuation missions while escorted by Brazilian fighter aircraft and armed helicopters.

Since inking the partnership arrangement in 2019, the New York National Guard has conducted leader exchanges with the Brazilian military and a New York National Guard Soldier and Airmen have both been able to attend Brazil's jungle warfare school's international course.

In September of 2019, six Airmen from the 109th Airlift Wing traveled to Rio de Janerio in Brazil to meet their counterparts from the Brazilian Air Force's 1st Squadron of the 1st Transport Group at Galeao Air Base in Rio.

The pilots and maintenance personnel talked about Antarctic flying operations with the Brazilian Airmen, a mission both organizations share.

Airmen deploying to Brazil have been vaccinated for COVID-19 and COVID-19 precautions will be followed during the joint training.