By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
France has come to St. Joseph.
More accurately, a French military crew has flown to Rosecrans Memorial Airport to attend the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center course operated by the Air National Guard’s 139th Airlift Wing.
Colonel John Cluck, Commander of the 139th, says he has been looking forward to the crew’s arrival, especially since the French brought the A-400 Atlas, better known as the military version of the Airbus.
“So, we’re excited about that. I’ve never been in the aircraft. I’m super jazzed about it and looking forward to the opportunity to go in and look around, just because it’s a new platform,” Cluck tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “Our Air Force does not own any of those. It’s a European Union-type of aircraft.”
France becomes the 17th allied nation to join the Airlift Tactics family at the 139th. The French crew will go through the two-week military tactical course operated out of the Air National Guard base at Rosecrans.
“I think that’s a tremendous feather in the cap of the 139th that they come to a small airfield in the middle of northwest Missouri to learn how to fly the newest tactical platforms,” Cluck says.
Cluck says this is the first time an Airbus has participated.
“We’re always looking for new ways to engage and this is a great opportunity,” according to Cluck.
Missouri National Guard Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Levon Compton, welcomed the French crew upon their arrival at Rosecrans.