A two-week exchange program in September afforded a rare chance for an Arkansas Air National Guard pilot and a British Royal Auxiliary Air Force warrant officer to learn firsthand about the other country’s approach to employment of reserve forces. Maj. Dom Sarnataro, from the 154th Training Squadron at Little Rock, Ark., spent a good portion of his time briefing British military members about the America’s dual-status Guard force. He did get to visit RAF Brize near Oxford. Warrant Officer Matt Dillon, with the RAF Auxiliary’s 4624 Movement Squadron, received an indoctrination at the 89th Airlift Wing, Andrews AFB, Md., where he toured the wing’s aerial port flight and took part in a night sortie with an air drop mission. One thing to note, RAF reservists do not get a pension upon retiring from service, but, by British law, the RAF can only call them to duty for two-week stretches. (More here.)
Planning an Air Show Is Hard. At Andrews, It’s Even Harder
Sept. 17, 2025
Joint Base Andrews opened its flightline this month to thousands of civilians, exposing a normally restricted airbase that regularly hosts the president and foreign dignitaries to a curious public eager to see current and historic military aircraft up close and in action.
