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Bulgarian CSAF visits Pope

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Lisa Ferguson
  • 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Joint training has been the norm for several years now, and not just between U.S. militaries. Joint training with coalition forces is an important aspect in today's military world, and General T. Michael Moseley, U.S. Air Force chief of staff, invited Bulgarian Air Force Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Simeon Hristov Simeonov, to visit the United States to foster that joint relationship. 

General Simeonov visited Pope last week to gain a better understanding of the inner workings of the relationship between Fort Bragg and Pope.
According to General Simeonov, Bezmer AB in Bulgaria has a similar relationship with a nearby Army base as Pope does with Fort Bragg, and he is very interested in seeing how the Bragg/Pope relationship works in order to better the relations of the two bases in Bulgaria. 

"One of my goals is to discuss ways to improve the cooperation between Bulgaria and the U.S. Air Force," General Simeonov said. "Several years before we joined NATO, we only supported certain exercises and partnerships, but after joining NATO in 2004, Bulgaria hosted the biggest exercise in NATO's Southern European command." The general added that since then two exercises have involved only Bulgaria's and the United States' Air Forces, with another two exercises including ground troops from both countries. 

"Those exercises between our two air forces proved a high level of cooperation and very effective to improving the Bulgarian Air Force," the general said. "We are looking to continue this cooperation and to better utilize the pact our two air forces have to share facilities and installations." 

This agreement between Bulgaria and the United States militaries has the U.S. Air Force using two Bulgarian Air Force installations. 

"The U.S. Air Force has a pretty clear vision of joint relationships, and we want to learn from that," the general said. 

General Simeonov believes the development of the relationship will continue in the same good spirit, and will support the improvement of the capabilities of the Bulgarian Air Force. 

"[Through this partnership] we will be able to use the tremendous experience of the U.S. Air Force," he said. "We wish to learn from the best in the business." 

The general said Bulgaria is a small country, but full of spirited people. 

"We want to be among the best, as well," he said, "though we know it's an ambitious undertaking." 

After leaving Pope, General Simeonov visited the Washington D.C area, Tyndall AFB, Fla.; Lackland AFB, Texas; and Eglin AFB, Fla., before departing the United States to return to Bulgaria.