From Feb. 3-6, military personnel representing the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy Seabees, Portuguese Air Force, and Spanish Air and Space Forces convened at Morón Air Base, Spain, for a multinational Airfield Damage Repair exercise. The exercise provided a unique opportunity for allied forces to train together by aligning procedures, sharing expertise, and strengthening interoperability in a joint environment.

ADR is not a one-size-fits-all approach. The techniques used depend on the operational environment, available resources, and mission requirements. By working together, partner nations expand their technical skill sets and build a global toolbox of repair methods that can be applied across different locations and conflict scenarios.

Day one of the exercise centered on establishing a shared technical foundation for all participants. Classroom training covered the use of Fiber Reinforced Polymer mats and crushed stone in crater repair—two critical techniques in restoring airfields for operational use. Each participant gained a common understanding of the tools, materials, and procedures necessary for effective airfield repair.

Partner nations then conducted vehicle familiarization training, equipping Airmen with practical experience operating each other’s respective repair equipment. Since vehicle controls and functions can vary widely across different militaries, the versatile training was essential for ensuring collaboration in real-world scenarios.

“You never know when you’ll be working alongside another government—like in this case, the Spanish [Air Force]. The controls and overall operation can be completely different,” explained Staff Sgt. Thaddeus White, U.S. Air Force Pavements and Equipment Specialist. “For example, our compact track loaders have doors and various internal features. In contrast, the Spanish Air Force vehicles rely more on manual labor.”

The Spanish Forces shared a similar sentiment. “Each country has its own way of working this type of repair. This exercise gives us the opportunity to learn different procedures and get information about new equipment and machinery,” said Capt. Antonio Burgos Lebrija, a Military Engineer with the Spanish Air Force.

Effective communication was key as the multinational teams collaborated. Language Enabled Airman Program translators played a crucial role in breaking down language barriers, ensuring smooth coordination between U.S., Spanish, and Portuguese personnel. Highlighting the importance of integrating LEAP program scholars into exercises with allied forces, 1st Lt. Aliyah Brown, a Logistics Readiness Officer from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, emphasized, “Being there to ensure that everyone is on the same page, every single step of this process, has been critical to making sure that when we do need this skill, that we do it correctly and we do it quickly.”

After the foundation was established, the exercise moved into its first hands-on crater repair session. The U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy Seabees took the lead, demonstrating E-ADR techniques by repairing two craters while partner nations observed and assisted.

For the Spanish and Portuguese Air Forces, this was their first exposure to the E-ADR process, requiring them to familiarize themselves with new procedures. Initially, crater repair efforts were deliberate and precise as teams adjusted to the techniques. However, the value of immersive, hands-on training quickly became apparent.

“The first day was a crawl phase and today was a full-on sprint,” Tech. Sgt. Shannon Beavin, 765 ABS, shared the next day. “[The Spanish and Portuguese Air Forces] knocked out the craters in about an hour and fifteen minutes.”

“We’ve never seen a process for repairing a crater in the way that we’re doing it here, so the combination of all of the forces together doing something totally new was very interesting, and we’re happy to be here,” Airman Roberto Guedes, Portuguese Air Force, said.

After seamlessly repairing two craters at the beginning of day three, the Spanish Air Force showcased its own temporary airfield repair methods, adding to the collective knowledge of all participating nations.

“We want to make sure that when we enter an environment, we can work smoothly with our allies and partners,” emphasized Master Sgt. Rafael Sanchez Carmona, Spanish Air Force.

On the final day of the exercise, the Spanish Air Force demonstrated its permanent airfield repair method, which incorporated Foreign Object Debris management to ensure long-term runway stability. This method provided a more durable solution to airfield damage, complementing the expeditionary techniques used earlier in the week. The demonstration reinforced the importance of having multiple repair strategies available to adapt to different operational needs.

With the completion of hands-on training and demonstrations, the exercise concluded with an awards and recognition ceremony, honoring the hard work and collaboration of all participants.

The exercise at Morón Air Base reinforced the importance of international cooperation and joint readiness. By working side by side, US, Spanish, and Portuguese forces strengthened their technical expertise, ensuring they could operate effectively and efficiently together in real-world scenarios.

“Since we arrived here, the US military has worked to integrate the Portuguese and Spanish forces, passing their knowledge to us and building mutual trust,” said Maj. Paulo Marques, Portuguese Air Force. “This kind of training ensures that when we need to respond together, we’re ready.”

“The importance of working with our joint partners and all the interoperability that we get from these trainings is you never know who’s going to be with you when you need them for the ADR situation. So, us all training the same, understanding the equipment, the hand signals, the nomenclature, and the steps of this are very important,” concluded Beavin. “We can all jump in and work as one team to complete the mission as fast as possible no matter who’s around or who we’re with.”

The exercise proved invaluable in establishing seamless teamwork for future operations. The ability to train, troubleshoot, and adapt together builds a resilient foundation for interoperability, ensuring allied forces are ready to respond anytime, anywhere.