by Tech. Sgt. Eric Petosky
12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) Public Affairs

10/22/2009 – ANTOFAGASTA, Chile (AFNS) — Air Forces Southern Airmen are integrating themselves into a Chilean combined air operations center for SALITRE, a Chilean air force-led coalition exercise Oct. 17 to Nov. 2 in Antofagasta and Iquique, Chile.

The effort can be challenging, considering France, Brazil, Chile, Argentina and the United States are learning to work together in a coalition environment while planning a large-scale peacekeeping operation.

Each air force has its own process for conducting air operations, learning from one another while at the same time overcoming four different language barriers, said Col. Patricio Topali, CAOC director for SALITRE.

“Our experiences here are very important,” he said. “By working together, we increase our knowledge and build relationships with other coalition countries, as well as NATO, especially in relationship to the combined air operations center.

“Our expectation is to gain more knowledge of the process, not just planning. In this case, when you learn the processes for the French, Argentinean, Brazilian, and U.S. Air Forces, you can achieve the required levels of proficiency for future coalition efforts. READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY ON US AIR FORCE LINK at WWW.AF.MIL