News United States Air Force
 Malmstrom RED HORSE Squadron builds relationships in PhilippinesPublished Feb. 9, 2023
                        
                        By Tech. Sgt. Hailey Haux
                        
                        
                        Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs
                **BASA AIR BASE, Philippines (AFNS) --**
                Airmen from the **819th RED HORSE** Squadron out of **Malmstrom Air Force Base**, Montana, traveled to the Philippines to work alongside their Philippine Air Force counterparts in a field training event, Jan. 23 through Feb. 3.

RED HORSE stands for Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer. The training event allowed both units to exchange knowledge and best practices on pouring a concrete pad, which will be used as a future training site for airfield damage repair, or ADR.Airmen from the 819th RED HORSE Squadron out of Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, assist Philippine Air Force Airmen in pouring concrete as part of a Field Training Event at Basa Air Base, Philippines, January 25, 2023. This event was one of many that took place in the Philippines over the course of two weeks to include training together on maintenance, hot pit refueling, airfield damage repair, and logistics. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Hailey Haux)Airmen from the 819th RED HORSE Squadron out of Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, assist Philippine Air Force Airmen in pouring concrete as part of a Field Training Event at Basa Air Base, Philippines, January 25, 2023. This event was one of many that took place in the Philippines over the course of two weeks to include training together on maintenance, hot pit refueling, airfield damage repair, and logistics. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Hailey Haux)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

    











“We were able to work together as a bi-lateral team to train on these capabilities for future ADR exercises and open up more doors in the future for the Indo-Pacific as a whole,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. James Hammons, 819th RED HORSE Squadron job site officer in charge. “Building partnerships is incredibly important, especially in this region. The PAF works very hard, so it was remarkable to be part of the team over the last couple weeks and see us all turn out a really great product.”

This event was one of many that took place in the Philippines over the course of two weeks, to include subject matter expert exchanges on maintenance, hot pit refueling, airfield damage repair and logistics.

“The U.S. Air Force team is easy to socialize with and very open in learning,” said Philippine Air Force 2nd Lt. Peter Daryl Isnit, job site officer in charge for the PAF. “This is why personnel from our team took the pleasure in teaching them. We tried to work alongside every member of each team using the buddy system in groups to explain and share our way of construction. Through this, we had the opportunity to talk about the advantages and disadvantages of our methods and compare and adjust processes as a team. We also got to know what life is [like] on the other side of the world and share with them how good our food is and about the people in our country.”

The two teams poured roughly 220 cubic yards of concrete over the course of their time together, learning how each crew operates and improving procedures a little at a time.Airman First Class Andres Baez, 819th RED HORSE Squadron Pavements and Equipment operator, prepares to assist in pouring concrete at Basa Air Base, Philippines, January 25, 2023. Airmen from the 819th RED HORSE Squadron out of Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, traveled to the Philippines and worked alongside their Philippine Air Force counterparts in a Field Training Event, Jan. 23 through Feb. 3. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Hailey Haux)Airman First Class Andres Baez, 819th RED HORSE Squadron Pavements and Equipment operator, prepares to assist in pouring concrete at Basa Air Base, Philippines, January 25, 2023. Airmen from the 819th RED HORSE Squadron out of Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, traveled to the Philippines and worked alongside their Philippine Air Force counterparts in a Field Training Event, Jan. 23 through Feb. 3. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Hailey Haux)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    Airmen from the 819th RED HORSE Squadron out of Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, assist the Philippine Air Force in pouring concrete as part of a Field Training Event at Basa Air Base, Philippines, January 25, 2023. This event was one of many that took place in the Philippines over the course of two weeks to include exchanging knowledge and best practices on maintenance, hot pit refueling, airfield damage repair, and logistics. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Hailey Haux)Airmen from the 819th RED HORSE Squadron out of Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, assist the Philippine Air Force in pouring concrete as part of a Field Training Event at Basa Air Base, Philippines, January 25, 2023. This event was one of many that took place in the Philippines over the course of two weeks to include exchanging knowledge and best practices on maintenance, hot pit refueling, airfield damage repair, and logistics. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Hailey Haux)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Derek Taft, 819th RED HORSE Squadron Pavements and Equipment operator, assembles forms with his Philippine Air Force counterparts to pour concrete at Basa Air Base, Philippines, January 25, 2023. Airmen from the 819th RED HORSE Squadron, out of Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, traveled to the Philippines and worked alongside their Philippine Air Force counterparts in a Field Training Event, Jan. 23 through Feb. 3. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Hailey Haux)U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Derek Taft, 819th RED HORSE Squadron Pavements and Equipment operator, assembles forms with his Philippine Air Force counterparts to pour concrete at Basa Air Base, Philippines, January 25, 2023. Airmen from the 819th RED HORSE Squadron, out of Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, traveled to the Philippines and worked alongside their Philippine Air Force counterparts in a Field Training Event, Jan. 23 through Feb. 3. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Hailey Haux)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

“As a whole, the process over the last few days has gotten much better and quicker,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kyle Gibson, 819th RED HORSE Squadron job site NCO in charge. “We learned how they wanted things done so the setup kept getting quicker, expediting the process. By the end of our time, we were working seamlessly as a whole, integrated team.”

Events like this showcase the U.S. Air Force’s commitment to improving the defensive capabilities of its allies and partners, and international Airmen are the backbone of those military-to-military partnerships.

While the Airmen from the 819th were in the Philippines to pour concrete, they learned much more from their counterparts on and off the job. They shared special moments with each other, including promotions, birthdays, culture, cuisine, and language.

“This was much more than a job,” said Gibson at a dinner, celebrating finishing the mission. “This was building a brotherhood. The Philippine Airmen took us in and taught us so much about their culture. We will be forever grateful for this entire experience. It’s one that I don’t think any one of us will ever forget.”RED HORSE 



Red Horse Squadron 



Philippine Air Force 



Malmstrom Air Force Base 



partnership 



bilateral 



Basa Air Base 



Philippines 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



Joint Interoperability 



mission 



training 



Indo-Pacific 



partnerships 



airfield 



PACAF 



Pacific Air Forces 



civil engineer 



Airfield Damage Repair 



ADR 



field training event Related Links
        US Air Force, Army engineers prioritize interoperability to set INDOPACOM theater