USAF air controllers participating in Exercise Immediate Response in Bulgaria have not found it hard to communicate with their Bulgarian counterparts. In fact, TSgt. Richard Walker says, “I just stand back and observe the operations. If needed, I will help the controller talk to the [F-15E] pilot or assist if a procedure needs to be tweaked.” Walker, who is chief controller for the 48th Operations Support Squadron from RAF Lakenheath, England, gave the Bulgarian controllers—who generally are pilots or former pilots—a short lesson on F-15E operations before the exercise began.
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
