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        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Angels de los Andes 2018Angel de los Andes
                        
                        
                        Colombian Air Force Major Gen. Rodrigo Alejandro Valencia Guevara, shakes hands with U.S. Air Force participants of the Colombian-led search and rescue exercise Angel de los Andes at Air Combat Command number 5 at Arturo Lema Posada Air Base in Rionegro, Colombia, Sept. 3, 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
                
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        Angels de los Andes 2018Angel de los Andes
                        
                        
                        Colombian Air Force military police stand in a formation as the Colombian Air Force Chief of Staff departs Air Combat Command number 5 at Arturo Lema Posada Air Base in Rionegro, Colombia as a C-17 Globemaster III from the 14th Airlift Squadron at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina sits on the flightline Sept. 3, 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
                
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        Angels de los AndesAngels de los Andes
                        
                        
                        U.S. Air Force Airmen stand in a formation during the opening ceremony of the Colombian-led search and rescue exercise, Angel de los Andes, at Air Combat Command number 5 at Arturo Lema Posada Air Base in Rionegro, Colombia, Sept. 3, 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
                
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Air Force participates in Colombian-led search and rescue exercisePublished Sept. 6, 2018
                    
                    By Tech. Sgt. Angela Ruiz
                    
                    
                    12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) Public Affairs
            **RIONEGRO, Colombia (AFNS)  --**Two U.S. Air Force aircraft and more than 90 U.S. Airmen are participating in “Angel de los Andes,” a Colombian-led international search and rescue training exercise Sept. 3-14.
The Air Combat Command number 5 unit at Arturo Lema Posada Air Base in Rionegro is the staging ground for the exercise.  This is the second time the Colombian Air Force has conducted Angel de los Andes, the first was in 2015.
“I’m confident that Angel de los Andes, with its mission to save lives, will extend and further our relationship, cooperation and exchange of best practices which will benefit the U.S. and Colombian Air Forces,” said Colombian Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Carlos Eduardo Bueno Vargas. “The significant importance of the U.S. being here is that we have the opportunity to strengthen our relationship so we can be prepared to confront future threats together.”
One C-17 Globemaster III from the 14th Airlift Squadron at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina, and one C-130 Hercules from the 133rd Airlift Squadron with the Minnesota Air National Guard are among the eight U.S. Air Force active, guard and reserve components participating.
“The U.S. has been our “big brother” for many years and we have a special relationship based on gratitude and respect and that is why they are our guest of honor to this important exercise,” Bueno Vargas said. “While all of the participating countries are important Colombian allies, the U.S. has a special relationship with Colombia since they have helped us overcome our most difficult moments, not only for the Colombian Air Force, but also for Colombia as a whole against narcoterrorism and drug trafficking threats.”
The first week of the exercise is focused on responding to natural disaster scenarios that include earthquake response, forest fire and open water rescue, as well as, responding to an aircraft crash. The second week will focus on close air support and combat search and rescue techniques.
“In a real world humanitarian assistance disaster response relief event in the U.S. Southern Command AoR we would expect to work with these same partner nations that are participating in this exercise,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Juan Pazarro, 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) Colombian desk officer.
There are more than 400 participants from 12 nations’ air forces, including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Panama, Peru and Uruguay.
“Managing 11 different nations can be challenging but I think that the Colombian’s have done a great job at integrating all of these different countries, all of the capabilities that they bring to this exercise,” Pizarro said.
The remaining U.S. units participating are: 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron at Travis Air Force Base, California; 48th Rescue Squadron, 306th Rescue Squadron, 612th Air Operations Center, 943rd Aerospace Medicine Squadron, 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) that are all stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.restore readiness 



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133rd Airlift Squadron 



571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron 



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612th Air Operations Center 



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