The Aces North exercise is the capstone of the FCIC, which is the Australian equivalent of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School's mission employment phase. The exercise enables the students to apply the information they have learned over the five months of the course.

"FCI course is the pinnacle of air-fighter training," said Wing Commander Phil Gordon, commanding officer of Number 2 Operational Conversion Unit. "We take our most experienced fighter pilots and air combat officers and, over five months, train them to the highest level in air-combat tactics."

The exercise had two distinct purposes for the Airmen in the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, which is deployed here from Minot AFB, N.D. The first was to provide a distinct bomber capability, unavailable in the Royal Australian Air Force, with the B-52 Stratofortress, and second, to strengthen and develop U.S military ties with Australia, promoting interoperability with one of the United States strongest allies.

During this exercise, the Warbirds, as they are known at their home station, flew two 12-hour sorties a day, for four days, for a total of more than 90 hours of flight.

"This was a great experience for the 23rd, as well as Australia. It provided a chance for our crews to execute some long-duration missions and also provided a good experience of working with other coalition partners, as well as integrating into a large force exercise," said Maj. Tom Morgan, 23rd EBS assistant director of operations. "We don't often get the chance to integrate with fighter assets, so to be able to fly in a large force package with 20 to 30 aircraft was a very good experience, very good training for us."

Major Morgan acted as the 23rd EBS liaison officer in Australia during the exercise, coordinating information between the 23rd EBS and the Australians to better integrate the forces.

The exercise also allowed the members of the 23rd EBS to expand on the continuous bomber presence, providing another medium to showcase the U.S. Air Force's global power capabilities throughout the Pacific region.

Although the B-52 was the only U.S. Air Force aircraft actively participating in this exercise, without another unit deployed to Andersen Air Force Base, the participation of the B-52s would not have been possible.

"The missions we flew were between 12 and 13 hours each. We wouldn't have been able to get the experience we did out of this exercise without the support of the (506th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron)," Major Morgan said.

The 506th EARS is a Pennsylvania Air National Guard Unit deployed here for four months.

"This exercise was a great capstone, or finishing mark for the Australians FCIC, and it was great to work so closely with, and improve our relationship with Australia," said Major Morgan.

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