The exercise is designed to help the military from different countries share and practice tactics and uses of equipment, so they can work better together.
An F-15Cs from the Massachusetts Air National Guard is seen supporting Exercise Eager Lion 12. Eager Lion is a multinational exercise May 7-28, with more than 11,000 participants from 19 different countries designed to portray realistic, modern-day security challenges while enhancing partner interoperability and strengthening long-term relationships.WESTFIELD – “Eager Lion 12” is the name of a massive military operation that’s going on in Jordan right now, and Air National Guard members from Western Massachusetts are there.
Fortunately, it’s all friendly.
Jordan is an ally of the United States, and part of the mission is to strengthen the relationship between the two countries – and many others.
Troops from 19 countries are involved in the military exercises, and the Air Guard’s 131st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, from the 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes Regional Airport, arrived at Mwaffaq Al Salti Airbase in Jordan on May 8.
The 104th members are being led by Lt. Col. Alexander Haldopoulos, of Longmeadow, Lt. Col. Kenneth Fedora, of Southampton, director of operations for the squadron, and Major Nathaniel Zajac, of Goshen, project officer for the squadron.
The exercise is designed to help the military from different countries share and practice tactics and uses of equipment, so they can work better together, according to Major Matthew Mutti, spokesman for the 104th. The exercises include combat search and rescue missions, Mutti said.
“In the event of war, if one of our members should be lost, shot down or kidnapped, we would send a team to rescue the person and return them back home,” he said, describing some of the exercises being undertaken as part of the training effort.
“This expedition in particular,” said Mutti, “is tied to the logistical challenge of operating in the Middle East.”
The entire Jordanian military is participating in Eager Lion 12, including the Jordanian Royal Air Force. Besides the Air Guard and its F-15 Eagle fighter jets, the U.S. military is represented by Army, Navy and Marine Corps units.