US airmen and the Royal Australian Air Force have been working together at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, to complete part one of Exercise Talisman Saber 2007, reports TSgt. Chris Vadnais. Their focus: planning and taking action on contingency missions from the Pacific Air Forces Kenney Headquarters Air Operations Center at Hickam. US Pacific Command hosts the exercise every two years provides an opportunity for the two allies to share tactics and techniques. “You really need to get together earlier—far earlier—and make sure that you’re fully integrated,” to cover the immense Pacific region, said Australian Air Vice Marshall Mark Binskin, Combined Forces Air Component commander of the exercise. Part two, the operational part, takes place in Australia beginning in June.
The Air Force Academy operates the largest glider program in the U.S., with more than 15,000 flights every year—almost entirely led and managed by the youngest instructor pilots in the Air Force. The enterprise is poised to get even busier as USAFA leaders drive toward their ambitious objective: to get…