Naval Education and Training Security Assistance Field Activity (NETSAFA) hosted senior officers from the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) on board Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Nov. 5.
Maj. Gen. Ali Juwayr Al-Hamad, commander, King Faisal Air Academy (KFAA) and Brig. Gen. Loaye Yagoub Al-Ali, the academy’s training wing commander, observed RSAF service member’s aviation training in the Pensacola area.
Before watching the training, both generals met with Rear Adm. Don Quinn, commander, Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), Capt. Douglas Heady, NETSAFA commanding officer and Capt. Christopher Heaney, NETSAFA International Training Center’s (NITC) officer in charge to discuss how RSAF service members are trained like their U.S. counterparts and briefed on the functions, infrastructure, and capabilities of NETSAFA, and the aviation training provided to the RSAF service members.
“Meeting one-on-one to assess what our international partners expect from our training is very important. It also allows us the opportunity to discuss practices and lessons learned, ” said Heady. “Reviews such as these are important to strengthening the ties the U.S. Navy has with the Royal Saudi Air Force, and expands our continued cooperation and alliance.”
Heany says the outlook for growth in the area of training international partners is huge.
“This valuable meeting provided the opportunity to improve NITC’s preparatory curriculum ” said Heaney. “ We value our ongoing relationship with the RSAF and their outstanding graduates from the KFAA.”
Afterwards Al-Hamad and Al-Ali met with Capt. Willie Billingslea, commodore of Training Air Wing Six (CTW-6) to familiarize themselves with the training command and see first-hand the type of training students receive. Following their visit to CTW-6 they met with Marine Col. Jim Grace, commodore of Training Air Wing Five (CTW-5)on board NAS Whiting Field, to discuss training and tour the T-6B Texan II aircraft simulator building, and chat with several RSAF service members about the training they are receiving.
“The generals were impressed to see that their students received the same rigorous aviation training as U.S. naval aviation students,” said Heady.
NETSAFA is the U.S. Navy’s agent for international education and training. In that role, NETSAFA is dedicated to providing the maximum assistance possible to ensure successful training for the growing Royal Saudi Air Forces and other international partners.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, November 13, 2012; Image: NAS Pensacola