About 150 personnel and aggressor F-16s from Eielson AFB, Alaska, touched down in Australia this week for a large-scale exercise Down Under. The airmen and aircraft from the 18th Aggressor Squadron will work with Royal Australian Air Force Air Warfare Centre instructors to help train RAAF pilots in Exercise Diamond Shield 2017. During the exercise, the F-16s will flying alongside RAAF C-17s, C-130s, and AP-3C, according to a Pacific Air Forces release. The aircraft, along with members of the Australian Army and Navy, will conduct a high-readiness deployment exercise in response to a simulated security threat.
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.