By Maj. Kimberly Lalley and Capt. Elizabeth Ortiz
Salitre 2004 Public Affairs Office

IQUIQUE, Chile, Sept. 30, 2004 — More than 100 Airmen from the New Mexico Air National Guard, N. M.; Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.; Ellsworth AFB, S.D.; and Bolling AFB, Washington D.C., are participating in Salitre 2004, a multinational air combat training exercise taking place through Oct. 8 at Los Condores Air Base here.

"This marks an unprecedented level of multinational cooperation," said Maj. Len Summers, the chief planner for the exercise from U.S. Southern Command Air Forces. "It is an historic first for the participating nations."

Hosted by the Chilean air force, the exercise consists of more than 600 service members from Argentina, Brazil, Chile and the United States. This year marks the first-ever deployment of all four countries and also the first time a combined air operations center has been integrated.

The bi-annual exercise, a low-intensity air campaign scenario, simulates wartime conditions pilots would face in real combat. The Chilean sky has more than 40 fighter aircraft and 20 support aircraft engaging in the air, U.S. F-16 Fighting Falcons, Mirage IIIs and Vs from Argentina, F-5E Tigres from Brazil, and A-36s and A-37s from Chile, to name a few.

Overall, Salitre 2004 gives participants the opportunity to sharpen air-combat skills, exchange air operations and tactics, and promote closer relationships among American nations. Demonstrating the participating nations’ interest in fostering relationships beneficial to peace and stability in the South American area of responsibility, the exercise provides a forum to strengthen ties between nations that have not historically worked together.

"Salitre has given me an opportunity to work with my counterparts from other countries and experience new ways to approach intelligence operations," said Capt. Atilio Usseglio, an intelligence officer from Davis-Monthan AFB who’s here in the intelligence control cell. "At the same time, I can share my knowledge and experience, improving our ability to work as a team."

As part of building relationships, New Mexico ANG members returned for the third time this year after participating in Salitre 2000 and 2002, which were bilateral exercises with Chile.

Staff Sgt. Angelo Saiz, an ANG five-year veteran on his third deployment to Chile, says it’s his favorite place to deploy. He also says he speaks enough Spanish to "make friends."

Another Guard member, Tech. Sgt. Caytano "Guy" Arellano still e-mails two Chilean counterparts he met during Salitre 2000. When he deployed again for Salitre 2002, he even attended the birthday party for one Chilean friend’s daughter.

"What’s really nice is that you’re speaking the same job language. What better way to serve and do something I love?" said Airman 1st Class Larry Trejos, a firefighter from Ellsworth AFB who’s working with Chilean and Argentinean firefighters on his first deployment outside the United States.

"Through Salitre, we are making great strides toward building a powerful legacy of cooperation with the people and armed forces of the Southern Cone," said 2nd Lt. Alexander McCormick, the executive officer for the U.S. contingent.