Airmen join forces for Talisman Saber Published July 5, 2007 HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AFPN) -- More than 270 Airmen here deployed to Australia to conduct the field training exercise portion of Talisman Saber 2007. The exercise ran from June 18-26 and was followed by combined training with the Royal Australian Air Force. During the exercise, 37 Airmen from the Maj. Richard Bong Air and Space Operations Center at Hickam joined forces with their RAAF counterparts in the RAAF's AOC in Canberra, Australia, to provide command and control of combined air, space and information operations. "Overall, Talisman Saber 2007 was a great success," said Col. Michael Boera, Combined Force Air Component deputy commander, during the exercise. "The exercise provided U.S. participants critical insights into the experiences and perspectives of one of our long-standing regional partners. Integrating these perspectives into our strategic and operational processes will reap tremendous benefits in furthering our collective interests to positively impact this theater," said Colonel Boera. Exercise Talisman Saber 2007, is a biennial joint training initiative between the U.S. Pacific Command and Australian Defence Force. U.S. forces participating included 10 ships, 100 aircraft, and 20,000 personnel. Australian forces included 20 ships, 25 aircraft and 7,500 personnel. A joint rapid airfield construction demonstration during opening ceremonies June 29 at Bradshaw, Australia, culminated with a 15th Airlift Wing C-17 Globemaster III from Hickam and an RAAF C-17 landing onto a tactical dirt airstrip. The JRAC process showcased PACOM's multi-national force standard operating procedures that enabled a combined/joint engineer task force to construct a semi-prepared runway capable of supporting C-17 operations. Other Air Force support included aerial refueling, airborne command and control, communications support, and an exercise staff element operating out of Brisbane International Airport, Australia. Four KC-135 Stratotankers, crews and support personnel were deployed from the 168th Aerial Refueling Wing, Eielson AFB, Alaska; 18th Wing, Kadena AB, Japan; and the Mississippi Air National Guard's 186th Aerial Refueling Wing. Communications experts and an E-3B Sentry, crew and support personnel also were deployed from Kadena and personnel from Headquarters, 13th Air Force at Hickam comprised the command staff. Lessons learned and experiences gained during Talisman Saber 2007 will enhance the U.S.-Australian defense capability and interoperability. Furthermore, Talisman Saber 2007 was the first operational test of the Australian Ministry of Defence's newly commissioned joint combined training capability facility. According to an Australian Defence Ministry statement released June 28, "This new capability gives Australian and United States defense personnel an advanced training system to better prepare for combined operations in increasingly complex environments. "The improvement of our combined military training capabilities, and the enhancement of interoperability, is a significant benefit of the ongoing security partnership between Australia and the United States," according to the statement. The first phase of Talisman Saber, which ran May 22-28, was a command post exercise during which RAAF airmen worked out of the Maj. Richard Bong AOC with their Air Force AOC counterparts. Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) Click here to view the comments/letters page