A dozen more F-16s and 300 personnel based at Aviano Air Base, Italy, will augment the U.S. aviation detachment at Lask Air Base, Poland, a Pentagon spokesman announced today.

One crew chief waves to another during the beginning of a familiarization flight in Poland. Six aircraft from the 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy, deployed to Poland as part of a partnership-building event July 15-26, 2013.

Tech. Sgt. Tanner Ike of the 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron’s 510th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Aviano Air Base, Italy, is at Lask Air Base, Poland, working with his Polish counterparts to fill up a liquid oxygen tank. Six aircraft along with personnel deployed to Poland as part of a partnership-building event July 15-26, 2013.

"We consider them one of our top allies, and it's an ally that we want to improve our relationship with and partnership with," Spears said. "So, the aviation detachment is a mechanism with which we can strengthen that partnership."

Six aircraft from Aviano Air Base, Italy are participating in the third aircraft rotation to the Aviation Detachment in Poland. The United States and Poland are strengthening their combined air power by exercising together during a two-week aviation detachment rotation.

Six aircraft from Aviano Air Base, Italy are participating in the third aircraft rotation to the Aviation Detachment in Poland. The United States and Poland are strengthening their combined air power by exercising together during a two-week aviation detachment rotation.

Six aircraft from Aviano Air Base, Italy are participating in the third aircraft rotation to the Aviation Detachment in Poland. The United States and Poland are strengthening their combined air power by exercising together during a two-week aviation detachment rotation.

Six aircraft from Aviano Air Base, Italy are participating in the third aircraft rotation to the Aviation Detachment in Poland. The United States and Poland are strengthening their combined air power by exercising together during a two-week aviation detachment rotation.

When a jet takes off from Aviano loaded with munitions in support of an operation, the Airmen from the 31st Munitions Squadron know they've done their job.

(From left) Airman 1st Class Cody Hedberg, Senior Airman Michael Bingaman and Airman 1st Class Phillip Borkowski, 31st Munitions Squadron precision guided munitions crew members, pick up an AIM-9/M missile to inspect, Feb. 26, 2013 at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Under the 31st MUNS, there are six different flights that provide armament, production, materiel, weapons, systems and programs for the 510th and 555th Fighter squadrons and the 31st Security Forces Squadron.

Senior Airman Micah Sawyer, 31st Munitions Squadron storage crew member, lines up his forklift to pick up a stack of BLU-129 bombs, Feb. 27, 2013 at Aviano Air Base, Italy. The 31st MUNS is responsible for providing munitions and armament support for two F-16 Fighting Falcon squadrons assigned to the 31st Fighter Wing.

Airman 1st Class Justin Childers, 31st Munitions Squadron storage crew member, untightens a strap to a stack of BLU-129 bombs, Feb. 27, 2013 at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Under the 31st MUNS, there are six different flights that provide armament, production, materiel, weapons, systems and programs for the 510th and 555th Fighter squadrons and the 31st Security Forces Squadron.

Senior Airman Ryan Schilling, 31st Munitions Squadron conventional maintenance crew chief, replaces a fuse inside a GBU-38 bomb, Feb. 26, 2013 at Aviano Air Base, Italy. To ensure maximum safety, members from the 31st MUNS take proper precautions when handling all weapons.

(From left) Senior Airman Ryan Schilling, Airmen 1st Class Bryan Frick and Ryan Williams, 31st Munitions Squadron conventional maintenance crew members, verify and replace fuses in GBU-38 bombs, Feb. 26, 2013 at Aviano Air Base, Italy. The 31st MUNS is accountable for multiple stockpiles of munitions valued at nearly $800 million.

A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Forward Engineering Support Team-Advance (FEST-A) conducted training and remote engineering missions in partnership with Italian Army Reconnaissance Engineers here September 9-21, 2012.

More than 150 U.S. and Bulgarian air force members volunteered free time to clean up two parks in the community here April 22.

Second Lt. Bryan Humphries, 31st Maintenance Squadron, cleans playground equipment at a park in Graf Ignatievo, Bulgaria April 22, 2012. More than 150 U.S. and Bulgarian air force members volunteered their off-duty time to refurbish playground equipment and build a soccer field at a village park. U.S. Air Force members are deployed from the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base, Italy, to Graf Ignatievo Air Force Base to participate in Thracian Star 2012, a coalition training exercise geared towards strengthening partnerships and improving interoperability between NATO allies.

U.S. Air Force members rake and clean debris from a soccer field April 22, 2012, in Graf Ignatievo, Bulgaria. More than 150 U.S. and Bulgarian air force members volunteered their off-duty time to refurbish playground equipment and build a soccer field at a village playground. Volunteers cleaned and painted playground equipment and raked, supplied new goals, cleaned and laid grass seed down in a field. U.S. Air Force members are deployed from the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base, Italy, to Graf Ignatievo Air Force Base in support of Thracian Star 2012, a bilateral coalition training exercise geared towards strengthening partnerships and improving interoperability between NATO allies.

U.S. and Bulgarian Airmen launched Thracian Star 2012, a joint training exercise focused on building partnerships and increasing interoperability, during a ceremony here April 18.

GRAF IGNATIEVO AIR FORCE BASE, Bulgaria -- Col. David Walker, 31st Operations Group and Thracian Star 2012 detachment commander, speaks to a journalist from the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency through a translator April 18, 2012 during the opening ceremony for the month-long joint training exercise focused on building partnerships and increasing interoperability with the Bulgarian air force. Bulgarian and American senior officials took the opportunity to acknowledge and express appreciation for the long-standing partnership between the two nations.

GRAF IGNATIEVO AIR FORCE BASE, Bulgaria -- Maj. Metodi Orlov, (left), a Bulgarian air force MiG-29 pilot, welcomes Maj. Matthew Brockhaus, (right), an F-16 pilot deployed with the 555th Fighter Squadron out of Aviano Air Base, Italy, to Bulgaria on April 17, 2012. Brockhaus is one of more than 500 U.S. Airmen taking part in Thracian Star 2012, a month-long joint training exercise focused on building partnerships and increasing interoperability with the Bulgarian air force. This is the third time since 2007 that men and women from the 31st Fighter Wing out of Aviano AB have conducted this type of training with the Bulgarians.

Staff Sgt. David Ambrusko, 31st Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels service controller, refuels an F-16 after landing at Graf Ignatievo Air Force Base April 17, 2012. Graf Ignatievo is now host to more than two dozen F-16 Fighting Falcons and more than 500 U.S. Air Force personnel in support of Thracian Star 2012, a month-long joint training exercise focused on building partnerships and increasing interoperability with the Bulgarian pilots, maintainers, joint terminal air controllers, firefighters and security forces Airmen.

Tech. Sgt. Brent Watkins, Airman Gage Boardingham and Airman 1st Class Corey Loesch, 31st Civil Engineer Squadron firefighters, test a barrier engagement on an F-16 after landing at Graf Ignatievo Air Force Base April 17, 2012. Graf Ignatievo is now host to more than two dozen F-16 Fighting Falcons and more than 500 U.S. Air Force personnel in support of Thracian Star 2012, a month-long joint training exercise focused on building partnerships and increasing interoperability with the Bulgarian pilots, maintainers, joint terminal air controllers, firefighters and security forces Airmen.

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy (March 20, 2011) - A 31st Fighter Wing F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot receives a handshake from a member of his flight crew at Aviano Air Base after returning from supporting Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn (JTF OD). JTF OD is the U.S. Africa Command task force established to provide operational and tactical command and control of U.S. military forces supporting the international response to the unrest in Libya and enforcement of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1973. UNSCR 1973 authorizes "all necessary measures" to protect civilians in Libya under threat of attack by Qadhafi regime forces. JTF Odyssey Dawn is commanded by U.S. Navy Admiral Samuel J. Locklear, III. (US Army Photo by SSG Tierney P. Wilson/Released)

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy (March 22, 2011) - Servicemembers deployed to Aviano Air Base, in support of Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn (JTF OD) temporarily reside in the Falcon Fitness Center. JTF OD is the U.S. Africa Command task force established to support the larger international response to the unrest in Libya. A broad coalition of nations are partnering to enforce U.N. Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1973, which authorizes all necessary means to protect civilians in Libya under threat of attack by Qadhafi regime forces. JTF Odyssey Dawn is commanded by Adm. Samuel J. Locklear, III. (US Army Photo by SSG Tierney P. Wilson/Released)

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy (March 22, 2011) - Airmen sleep in cots at the Falcon Fitness Center on Aviano Air Base. U.S. Air Force servicemembers are temporarily residing at the fitness center during their support for Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn (JTF OD). JTF OD is the U.S. Africa Command task force established to support the larger international response to the unrest in Libya. A broad coalition of nations are partnering to enforce U.N. Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1973, which authorizes all necessary means to protect civilians in Libya under threat of attack by Qadhafi regime forces. JTF Odyssey Dawn is commanded by Adm. Samuel J. Locklear, III. (US Army Photo by SSG Tierney P. Wilson/Released)

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy — Firefighters with Aviano and Italian air force's Rivolto Aeroporto attended an annual Fighting Falcon emergency response action training May 18.

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy — Volunteers from Aviano Air Base pitched in to clean up the roads surrounding the municipality of Aviano during Ecological Day March 15.

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- The 555th Fighter Squadron and the 555th Aircraft Maintenance Unit returned to Aviano after a training deployment to Zaragoza Air Base, Spain, Jan. 22 to Feb. 12, during which the pilots and maintainers were given opportunities to work side-by-side with the Spanish air force and accomplish vital training exercises.