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U.S Air Force Airmen train with South American partners

Angel de los Andes

A U.S. Air Force Pararescueman and a Peruvian Airmen treat simulated aircraft crash patients as a U.S. Air Force Pararescueman and a Colombian Civil Defense member discus patient treatment during a Colombian-led search and rescue exercise Angel de los Andes at Air Combat Command number 1, German Olano Air Base, Colombia, Sept. 5, 2018. The two-week Colombian-led exercise has more than 400 participants from 12 nations training together in the air and on the ground in the event of a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief response. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Angela Ruiz)

Angel de los Andes 2018

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. AJ Anderson, C-130 loadmaster, monitors the C-130 ramp opening while a Colombian Air Force commando prepares for a high altitude low opening jump over Air Combat Command number 1, German Olano Air Base, Colombia, during the Colombian-led search and rescue exercise Angel de los Andes Sept. 12, 2018. Two U.S. Air Force aircraft and more than 90 U.S. Airmen are participating in the international exercise with 11 other nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Angela Ruiz)

Angel de los Andes 2018

Peruvian Air Force commandos and U.S Air Force Pararescuemen sit on a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules prior to take off at Air Combat Command number 5, Arturo Lema Posada Air Base, Rionegro, Colombia, in preparation for a high altitude low opening jump during the Colombian-led search and rescue exercise Angel de los Andes Sept. 12, 2018. The two-week Colombian-led exercise has more than 400 participants from 12 nations training together in the air and on the ground in the event of a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief response. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Angela Ruiz)

Angel de los Andes 2018

U.S. Air Force Capt. TJ Oltman and 1st Lt. Matt Bair, 133rd Airlift Squadron, C-130 Hercules pilots, and conduct low altitude flying manuvers over Colombia during the Colombian-led search and rescue exercise Angel de los Andes Sept. 12, 2018. The second week of the exercise focused close air support and Combat Search and Rescue techniques to include: simulated humanitarian aid in a convoy attack, pilot recovery in land and water. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Angela Ruiz)

Angel de los Andes 2018

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Matt Bairand and Capt. TJ Oltman, 133rd Airlift Squadron, C-130 Hercules pilots, conduct low altitude flying maneuvers over Colombia during the Colombian-led search and rescue exercise Angel de los Andes Sept. 12, 2018. The two-week Colombian-led exercise has more than 400 participants from 12 nations training together in the air and on the ground in the event of a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief response. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Angela Ruiz)

Angel de los Andes 2018

A Colombian Air Force rescueman deploys his parachute after conducting a freefall jump from a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules from the 133rd Airlift Squadron, Minnesota National Guard, during the Colombian-led multinational search and rescue exercise Angel de los Andes at Embalse Penol-Guatape, Colombia, Sept. 11, 2018. The two-week Colombian-led exercise has more than 400 participants from 12 nations training together in the air and on the ground in the event of a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief response. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Angela Ruiz)

Angel de los Andes 2018

Colombian Air Force rescue men jump from a Colombian Air Force UH-60 Black hawk at Embalse Penol-Guatape, Colombia, during the Colombian-led multinational search and rescue exercise Angel de los Andes Sept. 11, 2018. The second week of the exercise focused close air support and Combat Search and Rescue techniques to include: simulated humanitarian aid in a convoy attack, pilot recovery in land and water. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Angela Ruiz)

Angel de los Andes

A Colombian Air Force medical professional and a U.S. Air Force Maj. Tina Ruyle, 109th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron medical crew director, discuss patient movement at Air Combat Command number 1, German Olano Air Base, Colombia, during a simulated earthquake rescue response for the Colombian-led search and rescue exercise Angel de los Andes Sept. 7, 2018. The two-week Colombian-led exercise has more than 400 participants from 12 nations training together in the air and on the ground in the event of a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief response. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Angela Ruiz)

Angel de los Andes

A Colombian Air Force UH-1H Huey II launches after transporting simulated earthquake victims to a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules for aeromedical evacuation at Air Combat Command number 1, German Olano Air Base, Colombia, for the Colombian-led search and rescue exercise Angel de los Andes Sept. 6, 2018. Squadron C-130 Hercules from the 133rd Airlift Wing with the Minnesota Air National Guard. The two-week Colombian-led exercise has more than 400 participants from 12 nations training together in the air and on the ground in the event of a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief response. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Angela Ruiz)

Angel de los Andes
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Colombian Air Force Tech. Sgt. Manuel Molina Garzon, sets up a radio to communicate with rescue helicopters rescue teams at Air Combat Command number 1, German Olano Air Base, Colombia, for the Colombian-led search and rescue exercise Angel de los Andes Sept. 7, 2018. This is the second time the Colombian Air Force is hosting Angel de los Andes, the first was in 2015. Two U.S. Air Force aircraft and more than 90 U.S. Airmen are participating in the international exercise with 11 other nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Angela Ruiz)

Angel de los Andes
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Colombian Air Force Tech. Sgt. Manuel Molina Garzon, sets up a radio to communicate with rescue helicopters rescue teams at Air Combat Command number 1, German Olano Air Base, Colombia, for the Colombian-led search and rescue exercise Angel de los Andes Sept. 7, 2018. The two-week Colombian-led exercise has more than 400 participants from 12 nations training together in the air and on the ground in the event of a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief response. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Angela Ruiz)

Angel de los Andes
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U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Josh Myers, C-17 Globemaster III loadmaster prepares for an airdrop over Air Combat Command number 1, German Olano Air Base, Colombia, during the Colombian-led search and rescue exercise Angel de los Andes Sept. 6, 2018. The first week of the exercise focused on responding to disaster scenarios that included earthquake response, a forest fire, and aircraft crash. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Angela Ruiz)

Angel de los Andes
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A Colombian Air Force Airman and U.S. Air Force Maj. Kubwimana Mhayamguru, 943rd Aerospace Medicine Squadron, discus standardization of medical equipment on a C-17 Globemaster III at Air Combat Command number 5, Arturo Lema Posada Air Base, Rionegro, Colombia, for the Colombian-led search and rescue exercise Angel de los Andes Sept. 5, 2018. The two-week Colombian-led exercise has more than 400 participants from 12 nations training together in the air and on the ground in the event of a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief response. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Angela Ruiz)

Angel de los Andes
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Colombian civil defense, Colombian, Peruvian, Brazilian and U.S. Air Force Airmen transport simulated aircraft crash victims onto a Brazilian Air Force UH-60 Black Hawk during a Colombian-led search and rescue exercise Angel de los Andes at Air Combat Command number 1, German Olano Air Base, Colombia, Sept. 5, 2018. The two-week week Colombian-led exercise has more than 400 participants from 12 nations training together in the air and on the ground in the event of a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief response. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Angela Ruiz)

Angel de los Andes
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U.S. Air Force Pararescueman, Colombian Civil Defense members and Peruvian Airmen treat simulated patients of a simulated aircraft crash at Air Combat Command number 1, German Olano Air Base, Colombia, during the Colombian-led search and rescue exercise Angel de los Andes Sept. 5, 2018. The simulated aircraft crash had more than 25 victims that were air evacuated by the Colombian, Peruvian and Brazilian Air Force’s helicopters to a U.S. C-17 Globemaster III and a U.S. C-130 Hercules for an aeromedical evacuation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Angela Ruiz)

Angel de los Andes
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A Peruvian Airman rappels from to the ground from a helicopter during the Colombian-led search and rescue exercise Angel de los Andes at Air Combat Command number 1, German Olano Air Base, Colombia, Sept. 5, 2018. The two-week Colombian-led exercise has more than 400 participants from 12 nations training together in the air and on the ground in the event of a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief response. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Angela Ruiz)

Angel de los Andes
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Senior Airman Carmen O’Donnell, 15th Airlift Squadron C-17 Globemaster loadmaster, monitors the runway clearance at Air Combat Command number 1, German Olano Air Base, Colombia, while a C-17 Globemaster taxis during the international search and rescue exercise Angel of the Andes, Sept 4, 2018. The C-17 from Joint Base Charleston and one C-130 Hercules from the 133rd Airlift Squadron with the Minnesota Air National Guard are part of the eight units from the U.S. Air Force Active, Guard and Reserve components participating in the Colombian-led exercise alongside 11 other nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Angela Ruiz)

RIONEGRO, Colombia -- Ninty-five U.S. Air Force Airmen trained with 11 partner nation air forces tallying more than 400 participants in the Colombian-led multinational search and rescue exercise “Angel de los Andes” Sept. 3-14.

The U.S. and multinational participants trained together by responding to realistic scenarios of natural disaster and combat related search and rescues, humanitarian aid, disaster response, aerial evacuation, patent treatment, flying operations and personnel recovery at Rionegro, Guatape, Velasquez and Palanquero, Colombia.

“This has been an excellent opportunity to train with our partner nations,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Brett Howard, 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) Angel de los Andes U.S. lead. “We’ve had many challenges, [but] what we were able to learn, is how to overcome those challenges together for mission success.”

A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III and a C-130 Hercules transported 506 passengers from all partner nations, moved 86.4 tons of cargo and airdropped 72 multinational personnel total during the exercise, while also transporting simulated victims of the exercise scenarios.

The C-130 Hercules airdropped a motorized boat known as rigged alternate method zodiac (RAMZ), an inflatable boat, U.S. pararescuemen and commandos from Colombia, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Panama and Peru in high altitude low opening (HILO) and high altitude high opening (HIHO) free fall jumps.

“We did some low altitude low level training. To get to go practice ridge crossings, flying though valleys and mountainous terrain was cool experience because it’s not something we get to do very often in Minnesota,” said U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Matt Bair, 133rd Airlift Squadron, Minnesota Air National Guard C-130 co-pilot. “Anytime that we can come down here take advantage of the local terrain and practice in a low level environment, we really appreciate it.”

The Colombian Air Force has participated in numerous U.S. Air Force training exercises in the past years to include: Angel Thunder 2014, Green Flag 2016, Mobility Guardian 2017, Red Flag 2012 and 2018.

“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 the future threats together,” said Colombian Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Carlos Eduardo Bueno Vargas.

This is the second time the Colombian Air Force has hosted this exercise since 2015. Eleven nations participated in the exercise and one country observed. Colombia plans execute Angel de los Andes exercise again in three years.

U.S. Air Force participants included exercise planners and leadership form 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern), pararescuemen from the 48th and 306th Rescue Squadrons, a critical care air transport team from the 943rd Aerospace Medicine Squadron all from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona; two aerial evacuation teams from the 109th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron and C-130 Hercules aircrew from the 133rd Airlift Wing, Minnesota National Guard; a C-17 Globemaster III aircrew from the 14th Airlift Squadron, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina; and a mobility control team from the 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, California.