Air advisors engage Peruvian Air Force, rekindle training mission Published May 8, 2022 By Maj. Jonathan Bonilla 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. (AFNS) -- Air advisors with the 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron engaged with Peruvian Air Force members to train their fixed-wing unit called Air Group Eight, or Grupo 8, in tactical air mobility operations Feb. 22 through March 10 at Callao Air Base, Lima, Peru. The mission, the first with PERAF since the pandemic, demonstrates PERAF’s interoperability with the U.S. Air Force in future exercises and real-world operations. Although it was the first mission in over two years with Peru, the partnerships and friendships established in previous years enabled a quick re-integration between international Airmen. “Returning to Peru after the pandemic has been a great experience,” said Tech. Sgt. Bruno Carreiro, 571st MSAS air advisor. “For several years, we have been training Grupo 8 on improving aerial port efficiency, the handling and inspection of hazardous cargo, and on developing better techniques to calculate a vehicle’s center of balance.” During the three-week engagement, air advisors trained 32 Peruvian officers and technicians in loadmaster and aerial port logistics, logistics management, material management, aircraft maintenance, quality assurance, and program management through classroom instruction, hands-on training, and several capstone exercises. Tech. Sgt. Bruno Carreiro, center, 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron air advisor, instructs Peruvian Air Force loadmasters on pallet build-up March 2, 2022, at Callao Air Base, Lima, Peru. The training was developed to improve the effectiveness of PERAF operational capabilities by reducing load times by 50 percent. (Courtesy photo) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Tech. Sgt. Jacob Haines, 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron air advisor, discusses an aircraft’s hydraulic system with Peruvian Air Force members March 1, 2022, at Callao Air Base, Lima, Peru. PERAF members were guided through an interactive discussion on the KC-130 Hercules, PERAF’s most used aircraft to conduct personnel and cargo transport, air evacuation, and humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions. (Courtesy photo) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Peruvian Air Force Técnicos measure data to calculate a forklift's center of gravity March 1, 2022, at Callao Air Base, Lima, Peru. Air advisors spent most of the day teaching loadmaster and aerial port logistics as part of their tactical air mobility operations training for PERAF members. (Courtesy photo) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Técnico Inspector Willy Enrique Pinedo Ruiz-Caro, Grupo 8 maintainer, one of the KC-130H Hercules technicians who participated in the last two MSAS engagements, said he was excited about putting his new skills to use. “I am very grateful for the teachings and experience that the air advisors have provided us in regards to loadmaster/maintenance expertise in the KC-130H,” Ruiz-Caro said. “I know that we are going to apply the lessons learned to future operations.” Maj. Jose Isaudro Loayza, PERAF class leader and Grupo 8 Finance Squadron commander, said that the engagement complemented PERAF’s mission objectives of evolving their interoperability capabilities. “The course enriched and strengthened the aeronautical knowledge for all crafts involved in aeronautical operations; from preflight and fueling, through landing and passenger unloading,” Isaudro Loayza said. The Airmen of the 571st MSAS’s impact to U.S. Southern Command’s mission is evident as it strives to continuously achieve USSOUTHCOM regional objectives of building capacity by working with partner nations to enhance regional security that safeguards the U.S. and its national interests.