LUFTFORSVARETS KULTUR
30 - 55
26.05.03
02:46
Side 44
EPAF: FROM CO-OPERATION
TO INTEGRATION PROV E The recent trilateral Danish-Netherlands-Norwegian F-16 deployment to Manas International Airport, Kyrgyzstan, was a watershed event. For the first time, EPAF-nations put together a fully integrated combat unit. Previously, the EPAF-routine was to operate separate, national
TEXT:
Joris Janssen Lok International Editor, Jane´s International Defense Review
E
EPAF detachment commander during the first three months of the operation, and responsible for planning and building the trilateral unit, was Colonel Ralph Reefman, Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF). In late September 2002, immediately prior to the start of the operation, Colonel Reefman told Luftled that «Danes, Dutch and Norwegians have the same ways of doing the work» (Luftled 4/2002, p 54 – 57). Having returned from Kyrgyzstan, the tall Dutchman has now been appointed Commanding Officer of Twenthe Air Base. The installation is one of three F-16 Main Operating Bases in the RNLAF and home to two F-16 squadrons, 313 and 315. In his office there, Colonel Reefman spent a lateApril morning with Luftled to recount his experiences with the Norwegians. «It all started with the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. In the wake of those events, a coalition of nations grew to take up the fight against international terrorism. Among them were Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway. At the end of 2001 the three began discussions at air force level about a possible combined deployment in support of Enduring Freedom», he started. «At the time, the three air forces already had
44 LUFTLED
nr. 2 juni 2003
detachments alongside each other at one location. For the RNoAF, Operation Enduring Freedom represented the toughest test yet of how the service performs in the challenging world of international operations.
significant experience in working together. There had been close collaboration in the Fighter Weapons Instructor Training programme, in joint participations in exercises such as Red Flag, in NATO Operational Evaluations and other events». «In all these, national detachments from each air force normally deployed to a single location. There, they would co-operate closely, but alongside each other – not integrated as a single unit». Colonel Reefman became personally involved in the planning process for Manas in early-2002. Because the Netherlands had the role of lead nation, an RNLAF officer was to be placed in charge. The job was given to Reefman. «My assignment was: we're going to take over from the Americans and the French at Manas and we're going to do it with a combined DanishNetherlands-Norwegian unit. Other than the order to «Make it happen» there really was not much more guidance». «I have experienced this as a 'carte blanche' mandate from my headquarters. Throughout the planning and execution phases, I have been backed 100% by them and received all the support I needed». Early on, Reefman and his team decided to go for an all-integrated detachment, and that each nation would roughly contribute one third of the effort. «I want my people to think in terms of challenges rather than in terms of problems. Going for a fully integrated detachment
certainly was a challenge. It had not been done before. People weren't used to it. Doing it the old way, each nation remained responsible for its own product. With an integrated detachment, the end result becomes dependent on somebody else». Colonel Reefman says that he is a «believer in the will of people to turn an international operation into a success». He was not disappointed. The Danes, the Dutch and the Norwegians all pitched in and did a «thouroughly professional job». «The motto is: you either lead, follow, or get out of the way», he said. «The Norwegians have demonstrated that they are willing to take their responsibility. They stepped in and did the job when they were called upon to take the lead. In terms of their skills and abilities the RNoAF personnel are very professional soldiers. They deserve all the respect for what they have done. To name just one example, I was very impressed with their technical officer: he has convincingly demonstrated that he can lead a multinational team», Colonel Reefman said.
APPROACHABLE For the Dutch detachment commander, one particularly positive aspect about dealing with RNoAF personnel was that «they are all very approachable. Everybody was open to discuss matters, they were most pleasant to work with». He added that the RNoAF is a «very
