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German Air Force Reserve officer tours 188th, Arkansas National Guard facilities through Foreign Exchange Program

  • Published
  • By Capt. Heath Allen
  • Arkansas National Guard Public Affairs
FORT SMITH, Ark. --  One German officer recently sampled a taste of the Arkansas National Guard. It was an experience he wouldn't exchange for anything.

Maj. Jens Cichorek, 35, an Airman in the German Air Force Reserve, recently visited the United States and was attached to the Arkansas Air National Guard's 188th Fighter Wing June 14-25 as part of the Reserve Officer Foreign Exchange Program.

The Reserve Officer Foreign Exchange Program involves any U.S. officer from any of the U.S. Reserve components, temporarily attached to a foreign military service, or a foreign reserve officer temporarily attached to a U.S. military service.

Cichorek was given a capabilities briefing by Col. Tom Anderson, the 188th Fighter Wing commander. Cichorek registered stops at nearly every section on base during his stay at the 188th and was also able to absorb some of the local culture during his off-duty hours.

"It was a great experience," Cichorek said. "I really noticed how much the local area supports the military and how much respect they have for the uniform. It's something that's easy to see in America and it's something you don't see as much of in Germany. It was a very positive experience to see how close the community is to its military and how the way the National Guard works is different from the German military."

Cichorek logged two days at the 188th's Detachment 1, Razorback Range, where he observed the Air National Guard unit's A-10C Thunderbolt II "Warthogs" conduct training exercises on the facility's sundry bombing ranges.

Cichorek spent two days with the 188th Security Forces Squadron in the field, where he shot the M-240, M-249 and M-203.

He was also able to test his flying aptitudes in the 188th's A-10 flight simulator. Cichorek also registered quality time with the 188th's Intel shop. Cichorek functions as an intelligence specialist and mission planner at the German Air Force Command in Cologne.

Cichorek is a native of Hürtgenwald, a village near Cologne. He labors as a business and tax consultant as a civilian. He began his military career in 1995 when he joined the German Air Force Commandos. He later toiled as an interrogator in intelligence. Cichorek said he has deployed to Afghanistan five times, four months each deployment.

While the 188th functioned as the primary host, Cichorek logged time touring myriad military facilities throughout the state.

Cichorek toured Camp Robinson Maneuver Training Center in North Little Rock, Ark., and visited the Arkansas National Guard's Joint Force Headquarters. He also visited Little Rock Air Force Base.

Cichorek also spent time at Fort Chaffee Maneuver Training Center, a key training facility for the Arkansas Army National Guard as well as all branches of the U.S. armed forces.

During a one-day visit to Fort Chaffee, Cichorek toured the IED Defeat Lane, Consolidated Maintenance Facility, Tactical Training Base Auburn and myriad ranges on the 69,000-acre post. Cichorek also visited the Fort Chaffee Battle Training Center, where he observed the HMMWV Egress Assistance Trainer (HEAT) and the Virtual Convoy Operations Center.

German Air Force Reserve officer tours 188th, Arkansas National Guard facilities through Foreign Exchange Program

  • Published
  • By Capt. Heath Allen
  • Arkansas National Guard Public Affairs
FORT SMITH, Ark. --  One German officer recently sampled a taste of the Arkansas National Guard. It was an experience he wouldn't exchange for anything.

Maj. Jens Cichorek, 35, an Airman in the German Air Force Reserve, recently visited the United States and was attached to the Arkansas Air National Guard's 188th Fighter Wing June 14-25 as part of the Reserve Officer Foreign Exchange Program.

The Reserve Officer Foreign Exchange Program involves any U.S. officer from any of the U.S. Reserve components, temporarily attached to a foreign military service, or a foreign reserve officer temporarily attached to a U.S. military service.

Cichorek was given a capabilities briefing by Col. Tom Anderson, the 188th Fighter Wing commander. Cichorek registered stops at nearly every section on base during his stay at the 188th and was also able to absorb some of the local culture during his off-duty hours.

"It was a great experience," Cichorek said. "I really noticed how much the local area supports the military and how much respect they have for the uniform. It's something that's easy to see in America and it's something you don't see as much of in Germany. It was a very positive experience to see how close the community is to its military and how the way the National Guard works is different from the German military."

Cichorek logged two days at the 188th's Detachment 1, Razorback Range, where he observed the Air National Guard unit's A-10C Thunderbolt II "Warthogs" conduct training exercises on the facility's sundry bombing ranges.

Cichorek spent two days with the 188th Security Forces Squadron in the field, where he shot the M-240, M-249 and M-203.

He was also able to test his flying aptitudes in the 188th's A-10 flight simulator. Cichorek also registered quality time with the 188th's Intel shop. Cichorek functions as an intelligence specialist and mission planner at the German Air Force Command in Cologne.

Cichorek is a native of Hürtgenwald, a village near Cologne. He labors as a business and tax consultant as a civilian. He began his military career in 1995 when he joined the German Air Force Commandos. He later toiled as an interrogator in intelligence. Cichorek said he has deployed to Afghanistan five times, four months each deployment.

While the 188th functioned as the primary host, Cichorek logged time touring myriad military facilities throughout the state.

Cichorek toured Camp Robinson Maneuver Training Center in North Little Rock, Ark., and visited the Arkansas National Guard's Joint Force Headquarters. He also visited Little Rock Air Force Base.

Cichorek also spent time at Fort Chaffee Maneuver Training Center, a key training facility for the Arkansas Army National Guard as well as all branches of the U.S. armed forces.

During a one-day visit to Fort Chaffee, Cichorek toured the IED Defeat Lane, Consolidated Maintenance Facility, Tactical Training Base Auburn and myriad ranges on the 69,000-acre post. Cichorek also visited the Fort Chaffee Battle Training Center, where he observed the HMMWV Egress Assistance Trainer (HEAT) and the Virtual Convoy Operations Center.