German, Polish students tour Spangdahlem AB as part of longest running exchange program in Rheinland-Pfalz Published Oct. 18, 2024 By Airman 1st Class Albert Morel 52nd Fighter Wing SPANGDAHLEM AIR FORCE BASE, Germany -- In a powerful reminder of history and unity, German students from Trier and Polish students from Poznań gathered at Spangdahlem Air Base for an engaging installation tour, a continuing testament to the spirit of cultural exchange that been around since before the fall of the Iron Curtain. U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Peter “Namy” Namyslowski, commander of 52nd Operations Group Detachment 1, briefs German and Polish high school students on the detachment’s mission during a base tour at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Oct. 8, 2024. Det 1, a geographically separated unit assigned to the 52nd Fighter Wing, is charged with the coordination and support of rotational U.S. Air Force fighter, tanker and airlift aircraft to Poland. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Albert Morel) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res On Oct. 8, the students received a unique first-hand look into how the U.S. military operates and strengthens the ever-continuing cultural exchange between the U.S. and its host nation partners. "The base receives many requests from school groups for visits, but this specific request stood out,” said Judith Mott, 52nd FW school liaison program manager. “It came from a school that had never visited before. They also wrote a very nice letter explaining that it would be German students and their Polish pen pals/exchange students." A Polish high school student from the city of Poznań asks a question to U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Peter “Namy” Namyslowski, commander of Detachment 1, during a base tour at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Oct. 8, 2024. Although the 52nd Fighter Wing is based in Germany, its geographically separated unit, the 52nd Operations Group Detachment 1 is located about 50 miles from Poznań and is a vital forward presence in Poland that enhances NATO's deterrence efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Albert Morel) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res U.S. Air Force Capt. Mason Burton, 480th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, shows F-16 landing gear to Polish high school students from the city of Poznań during a base tour at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Oct. 8, 2024. During the tour, the 480th FS pilots explains the Wild Weasel mission to the students, which focuses on suppressing enemy air defenses by using specialized aircraft to locate and neutralize radar systems and surface-to-air missiles, ensuring safe operations for other aircraft in contested airspace. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Albert Morel) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Joshua Lynch, 52nd Maintenance Squadron precision guided munitions crew chief, explains the 52nd MXS weapons flight mission to German students from the Bischöfliches Angela-Merici-Gymnasium and Polish students from Zespół Szkół Urszulańskich high school in Poznań, during a base tour at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Oct. 8, 2024. During the tour, the students visited Spangdahlem High School, received an in-depth walkthrough of an F-16 Fighting Falcon and learned about the vital role the 52nd Security Forces Squadron plays in base security. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Albert Morel) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Starting in 1985, the Bischöfliches Angela-Merici-Gymnasium in Trier, Germany, and the Zespół Szkół Urszulańskich in Poznań, Poland, have run a cultural exchange program where a group of German and Polish students aged 15-18 visit each others’ countries. This year is the program's 39th anniversary, making it the longest running of its kind in Rheinland-Pfalz. The tour kicked off with a visit to Spangdahlem High School, where they received an initial brief, explored the classrooms and facilities and had the opportunity to interact with American students. “I was surprised with how large and modern the school was compared to ours,” said Merweille Nkumba, a German student. “Overall, it was cool to see how different and similar our schools are.” Soon after, an informative walkthrough of an F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet gave the students an opportunity to learn about its armaments and capabilities. Pilots and maintainers assigned to the 480th Fighter Squadron and 52nd Maintenance Squadron, respectively, taught the students about munitions like the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb and the aircraft’s advanced radar systems and aerial maneuverability. “My favorite part of the tour was when the pilots and airmen were showing us the F-16,” said Hania Niklewicz, a Polish student. “They really tried to explain how the F-16s work and even talked about some of the struggles they run into.” To wrap up their day, the 52nd Security Forces Squadron military working dog section provided the students with a live bite demonstration, a tour of the kennels and an explanation of the crucial role that MWDs play in fortifying base security. German and Polish high school students examine a bite jacket used by military working dog handlers for training during a base tour at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Oct. 8, 2024. During their tour, the students visited the 52nd Security Forces MWD section, where they learned about the vital role the MWDs play in base security. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Albert Morel) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Trey Nelson, 52nd Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, and MWD Capa conduct a demonstration for German and Polish high school students during a base tour at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Oct. 8, 2024. MWDs work to deter, detect and defend against threats on and around the installation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Albert Morel) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Trey Nelson, 52nd Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, and MWD Capa conduct a demonstration for German and Polish high school students during a base tour at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Oct. 8, 2024. MWD handlers are responsible for caring for and training MWDs to protect and defend military installations by detecting potential explosive ordinances and illegal substances. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Albert Morel) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res The visit aimed to deepen the students' understanding of the U.S. Air Force's role in NATO and its mission in Germany and Poland. Although the 52nd FW is based in Germany, its geographically separated unit, 52nd Operations Group Detachment 1, is a vital forward presence in Poland that enhances NATO's deterrence efforts. Established in November 2012, this team of Airmen operates from Łask and Powidz Air Bases near Poznań. U.S. Air Force members assigned to the 52nd Fighter Wing pose for a picture with German and Polish high school students during a base tour at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Oct. 8, 2024. Since 1985, the Bischöfliches Angela-Merici-Gymnasium high school in Trier, Germany has had an exchange program with the Zespół Szkół Urszulańskich high school in Poznań, Poland, making it the oldest of its kind in Rheinland-Pfalz. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Albert Morel) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res “We had a very interesting tour of Spangdahlem AB,” said Matthias Becker, teacher and head of the student exchange program at the Bischöfliches Angela-Merici-Gymnasium. “Our students had the unique experience to learn about the importance of NATO and the USA in Poland and in Germany in a truly wonderful way.”