TRAVIS
8 TRAVIS TAILWIND
April 8, 2022
The 22nd AS returns to Australia, celebrates 80 years of heritage 1st Lt. Jasmine Jacobs 60TH AIR MOBILITY WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS
RAAF BASE AMBERLEY, Queensland — Members of the 22nd Airlift Squadron, stationed at Travis Air Force Base, trained on the C-5M Super Galaxy and celebrated 80 years of heritage with Royal Australian Air Force allies at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland, March 23-27, as part of the Major Command Service Tail Trainer program. The MSTT program is managed by Air Mobility Command and allots monthly flight hours to the C-5M specifically for training. “Opportunities like this allow all parties to learn and improve,” said Capt. Justin Wilson, 22AS pilot and aircraft commander. “Within the first hour or two of our arrival, we were already learning techniques from our RAAF partners that we hadn’t considered – that’s the purpose of training together.” Wilson explained that through these broadening opportunities, the squadron and the aircrew are able to refine tactics, techniques and procedures for tomorrow’s fight. “By working with our RAAF partners, their aerial port squadrons and their loadmasters, it enhances the proficiency and effectiveness in how we respond to humanitarian and wartime efforts,” said Wilson. “We are the only air force with the C-5M aircraft – through showing our RAAF counterparts how the C-5M works and maneuvers, it better prepares both forces for future bilateral and multilateral operations.” This is the first time in history that a C-5M has landed in the country, presenting a unique
training environment for the members of the Australian Air Force assigned to RAAF Base Amberley. “It makes sense for us to capitalize on our existing close relationship with the U.S. Air Force and take advantage of training opportunities on the C-5M,” said Air Commodore Sandra Turner, Director General of U.S. Force Posture Initiatives and Singapore Military Training
See AUSTRAILIA Page 9
Senior Airman Karla Parra/U.S. Air Force photos
ABOVE: U.S. Airmen from Travis Air Force Base prepare to offload Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacements from a C-5M Super Galaxy at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, March 28. The C-5M transported Marine Corps equipment from Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin, NT, Australia, to Kadena AB as part of the Major Command Service Tail Trainer program. The program, managed by Air Mobility Command, allots monthly flight hours to the C-5M specifically for training. LEFT: Members from the Royal Australian Air Force wear a patch to display their country and branch of service at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland, March 24, 2022.
