PANAMA CITY, Panama – Air advisors with the 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron and the Puerto Rico National Guard’s 156th Tactical Advisory Squadron conducted a mobile training team mission with the Servicio Nacional Aeronaval of Panama March 14-21.
The engagement advanced the partner nation’s aircraft structural maintenance capabilities, reinforcing stability and security in the Western Hemisphere.
The weeklong training provided five Aeronaval personnel with advanced skills in aircraft structural repair. The curriculum was designed to build on foundational knowledge Aeronaval personnel gain through their organic maintenance training, covering sheet metal fabrication, damage assessment, repair techniques and corrosion control — a topic of particular importance in Panama’s humid climate. The instruction is crucial to ensuring the long-term airworthiness and safety of Aeronaval’s diverse air fleet.
"The expertise we bring to our partners is about more than just fixing parts; it's about building a sustainable and self-sufficient maintenance culture," said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Nestor Rivera, the lead aircraft structural maintenance instructor, 156th Tactical Advisory Squadron. "We saw tremendous dedication from our Panamanian partners. Their ability to perform in-depth structural repairs in-house means their aircraft can stay on mission, protecting their borders and countering illicit trafficking, which makes the entire region safer."
The classroom portion of the training culminated in an on-site visit to Aeronaval’s structural maintenance shop, serving as a practical bridge between theory and real-world application. During the tour, Aeronaval technicians guided the instructor through their operational workflow, showcasing procedures on aircraft actively undergoing maintenance. The interactive session allowed the instructor to connect the academic curriculum directly to the partners’ environment, pointing out real-time examples of the principles taught in class and illustrating how the techniques could be integrated into existing depot practices.
"This partnership is foundational to our shared security interests," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. William Bohlke, commander of the 156th Tactical Advisory Squadron. "A capable and self-reliant Aeronaval is a stronger partner for the United States. By investing in their skills, we are investing in regional stability and strengthening the alliance."
The engagement is an example of security cooperation in action. It strengthened the long-standing alliance between the U.S. and Panama and demonstrated a shared commitment to a peaceful and prosperous hemisphere built on mutual trust and shared capabilities.
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