Two Air Force Reserve Command KC-135s from March ARB, Calif., are in Australia, where they’re supplying aerial refueling for forces participating in the US Pacific Command-directed Talisman Saber, an exercise designed to increase interoperability between US and Australian forces. During an initial sortie for the exercise, which runs through July 25, the Reserve airmen of the 506th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron refueled two B-52 bombers deployed from Barksdale AFB, La. Both the USAF tanker and bomber forces are part of the latest PACOM theater security package rotation that is operating out of Andersen AFB, Guam, through August. (Andersen report by SSgt. Jennifer Redente)
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

