Airmen from Spangdahlem AB, Germany and Aviano AB, Italy traveled to Iceland to participate in Exercise Northern Challenge 2016. The training, which began Sept 12, focused on disabling improvised explosive devices and was intended to prepare countries enrolled in NATO’s Partnership for Peace program for deployments. Other participants included forces from Germany, Denmark, Poland, Norway, Belgium, Great Britain, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Italy, and the Netherlands, according to a release. “With all these partner nations working together to defeat a common network, you really get the advantage of different points of view, which will help each other improve tactics, techniques, and procedures,” said Capt. Kyle Fuller, commander of the 31st Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight at Aviano.
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
