Tactical weather exchange exercise solidifies partnership with Alpini

VICENZA -- United States Air Force Detachment 3, 7th Weather Squadron, located on Caserma Ederle, and the Italian Alpini have been working in partnership for more than a decade by conducting weeklong training exercises between the two partners.

The biannual partnership training and skill exchange exercise typically begins in late spring or the beginning of fall when the Italians visit Caserma Ederle and then, the Americans return the visit in mid-December when training takes place in the Southern Alps.

"This is my third year instructing and second year coordinating the Tactical Weather Exchange (TWX) with the Alpini," said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Rafael Delgado, weather craftsman of 7th WS, Det. 3.

Delgado coordinated this year's TWX 2016 with Lt. Col. Riccardo Lucia.

This iteration of training was the first experience on Caserma Ederle for the nine participants of the Comando Truppe Alpine - Servizio Meteomont (Alpini), who arrived in Vicenza Oct. 16.

The members of Alpini troops arrived from Bolzano, Udine and Turin.

Delgado explained that the primary goal of the training is to strengthen the partnership between the

Italian host nation and the Air Force weather forecasters.

"We teach them how to tactically integrate the meteorological aspects of our jobs with the mission requirements of the warfighting element," said Delgado.

During the five-day event, four instructors focused on sharing skills about weather observing and weather forecasting techniques used by U.S. forces. According to Delgado, the overall intent is the same every year with slight changes.

This time, one day of the training was spent at Aviano Air Base.

"In past years we would take them to Aviano for a tour of the facilities and the F-16 aircraft. We decided to incorporate the Aviano trip again," Delgado said. "We also incorporated the Gunfighter Gym at [Caserma] Del Din, which allowed them to practice with weapons and hone their sharpshooter skills."

After repeating the experience here, the next opportunity to meet for 10 members of Det. 3, 7th WS will be in Corvara, Val Badia in the middle of December. There, with completely different weather scenery, participants will have the opportunity to become confident with some techniques about snow conditions, avalanche forecast and risk evaluation.

"In that environment we will learn the second part of our partnership started back in 2002," stressed Delgado.

An award ceremony took place on Caserma Ederle at the end of the training Oct. 21, and each member of the Alpini troop was recognized with a certificate.

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