U.S. Air Force advisors with the 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron (MSAS) provided training for the first time using a virtual medium to members of the Panamanian Air and Naval Service, also known as SENAN, August 31 through September 11.
Air advisors established the new training and certification process with inputs from Headquarters Air Force, Air Mobility Command, Inter-American Air Forces Academy, 818th MSAS, and various members of the State Partnership Program.
Air advisors received virtual training certifications prior to this advising engagement that included two weeks of significant practice, research, and training to ensure they were presenting a professional image and complying with industry standards.
The training the air advisors provided to their Panamanian partners consists of an introductory command and control course and a multi-topic airfield operations course. This training will serve as the framework for future Building Partner Capacity missions within the country.
The command and control course is one week long, and the airfield operations course is two weeks long. The courses covers 16 lessons between five instructors for 26 students, delivered in two languages.
“Giving Panama quality training, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, shows that U.S. Air Force air advisors can rise to any occasion,” U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant Samantha Miller, 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron air advisor said. “The MSAS is here to advise, and we make that happen, even in the age of social distancing.”