News United States Air Force
 613th AOC synchronizes first USAF, RAAF nonstop C2 mission from Alaska to AustraliaPublished July 15, 2015
                        
                        By Master Sgt. Matthew McGovern
                        
                        
                        Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs
                **JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii --**
                Airmen from the 613th Air Operations Center here were the nerve center for the movement of seven C-17 Globemasters carrying almost 450 U.S. Army paratroopers on a nonstop flight from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, to Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley, Australia, July 8.  
The 613th AOC provided this 22-hour command and control capability, which included two Royal Australian Air Force C-17s from the 36th Airlift Squadron, four C-17s from Air Mobility Command and one C-17 from Pacific Air Forces. The training across two hemispheres was completed in one day, as part of Talisman Sabre 15.     
“There were many moving parts involved with launching these aircraft and getting them to Australia in a secure manner, and more than a thousand people were involved in successfully completing this operation,” said Maj. Kaialii Kahele, the 613th AOC Air Mobility Division airlift control team chief.  “This was the kickoff to Talisman Sabre, the largest (U.S.) Pacific Command exercise, and it was successfully completed as a joint, coalition effort that demonstrated our global reach and global power.” 
To allow for a nonstop flight, four KC-10 Extenders from Travis Air Force Base, California, and three KC-10s from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, created an air bridge in the skies above the Pacific, delivering 804,000 pounds of fuel. 
“The refueling piece happened in 35 minutes with no issues,” Kahele said. “This coordination displayed our unity of effort and it demonstrates how we can reach anywhere around PACAF -- 52 percent of the world’s surface -- at any time.” 
Before the aircraft touched down at RAAF Amberley, Soldiers with the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division from Fort Richardson, Alaska, parachuted onto Kapyong Air Field, Queensland, Australia. 
“The air drop commenced precisely in the five minute window,” Kahele said. “This demonstrated the strategic airpower of the U.S. and Australian Air Forces with our coalition partners. At the time of the jump, I looked at my watch and knew that somewhere over Australia the 4th Brigade is jumping out of U.S. and Australian C-17s. I had a part in that, and it almost felt like I was there.”  
Airmen and their Australian counterparts also worked the command and control piece together, where they stayed in constant contact with the C-17 and pilots and were ready for any unplanned contingencies, like changes in weather or aircraft issues. 
“I have been associated with numerous Talisman Sabre exercises and the (Air Force) integration with the RAAF is not only vastly improved over the years, but it is relatively seamless at this point and a critical enabler for contingency operations in the Pacific,” said Col. David Moeller, the 613th AOC commander.
About 30,000 U.S. and Australian personnel will participate in the exercise throughout the Pacific region stretching from the California coast to Australia. Talisman Sabre, which will run through July 19, is a jointly sponsored exercise by the U.S. Pacific Command and Australian Defense Force Headquarters Joint Operations Command.Hawaii 



C-17 Globemasters 



KC-10 Extenders 



Royal Australian air force 



joint operations 



exercise 



Talisman Sabre 



Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam