Participants in the Elevate-Air Force program have visited RAAF Base Williamtown to enhance their understanding of Air Force and air power.
The Elevate-Air Force program is aimed at providing Senior Executive Service (SES) Australian Public Service (APS) staff from Defence and other departments with the opportunity to contextualise their appreciation of Air Force and air power through a visit to an operational base.
Participants toured the airbase and facilities at Williamtown and received capability and operations briefs from 26 Squadron, Air Combat Group, and Surveillance and Response Group.
The participants viewed an F-35A Lightning II static display, visited the Air Traffic Control Tower and 3 Control and Reporting Unit, and engaged with aviators over lunch at the Junior Aviators' Mess.
The event was coordinated by Emma Lombard, of the Directorate of Air Force Events, and hosted by Air Commodore Gretchen Fryar.
Director Air and Space Power Centre Group Captain Steven Ferguson escorted the group from Canberra and described the objective of the program.
"To fight and win in the future, Defence will operate as an integrated force with a clear understanding of how military power contributes to national power," Group Captain Ferguson said.
"Air Force is strengthening its human, procedural and technical integration across all services and domains, including the Australian Public Service, which supports and enables Air Force capabilities.
"APS staff members may have limited previous military experience, or limited opportunities to see and better understand air power capabilities up close. The program provides opportunities for APS staff to learn about air power, current and future capabilities, and to ask questions of aviators about their Air Force experience."
'The Elevate-Air Force program provides participants with an understanding of Air Force's mission and an appreciation of the importance of Air Force's contribution to national power.'
Air Commodore Fryar highlighted the importance of the Elevate-Air Force program in enhancing the integration of APS and Air Force through the development of mutual understanding - on this occasion via exposure to Air Force capabilities on an operational base.
"Our senior APS are key members of the most senior Defence committees," Air Commodore Fryar said.
"By providing the situational context to what is sometimes only a two-dimensional picture, we are able to enhance their existing understanding of Air Force and air power, and collectively better contribute to the integrated force that the National Defence Strategy demands."
The Elevate-Air Force program consists of multiple lines of effort including visits to Air Force bases, as well as air show and exercise experiences, guided static aircraft tours, and other opportunities that the Air and Space Power Centre and the Directorate of Air Force Events are teaming up to deliver as an ongoing program of events.
The planned next stop is the RAAF Richmond Air Show at RAAF Base Richmond from September 27 to 28.
"The Elevate-Air Force program provides participants with an understanding of Air Force's mission and an appreciation of the importance of Air Force's contribution to national power," Air Commodore Fryar said.
"We have been gratified by the strong interest in the program and the participation of SES personnel not only from Defence, but also the Departments of Finance and Prime Minister and Cabinet."
