Kalistani Major History

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Kalistani Regular Air Force shows marked improvement
Decade's Long professionalization program Pays off
Eshar, Duchy of Odufaray
August 1, 5544


Two F/A 39 Lasaitasuna Fighters, designed in Kundrati, but built in Kalistan, fly close formation in July RFGCRB

The Professionalization Program begun in 5516 under Empress Nicolette II is nearing completion in Kalistan, and the General Staff reports that the Regular Air Force has made dramatic improvement over the nearly 30 years. "We have seen astounding improvement in not only combat skills acquisition and adaptation but also in garrison skills," said Regular Air Force Chief of Staff General Isaac Adams. "It is safe to say that the Regular Air Force is now one of the most technically adept, technologically advanced, and highly disciplined branches of the Regular Force."

The evaluation by General Adams was underscored by the results of last month's Regular Forces General Combat Readiness Battery (RFGCRB), a biennial evaluation of the combat readiness skills of the Kalistani Regular Forces. During the month long battery, each force is heavily inspected in a number of areas including things like uniforms, close order drill, military knowledge and small arms skills. They are also tested in a series of wargames which involve a week of field operations in the most stressful and strenuous conditions, meant to simulate a war situation. "We aim to create unwinnable scenarios," said General Adams, "and then see how our men and women react to those situations, how they adapt and overcome, and how they work as a unit."

In the Battery, the Air Force scored its first "Silver Star" Rating for receiving the highest overall combat rating of all regular forces. "Usually the award goes to the Navy, but recently, the Army and the Air Force have been battling it out for second place, and this year, the air force finally defeated everyone." In light of their success in achieving their Silver Star Rating, the National Assembly has authorized the Commander of the Air Force, General Marcia Rodriguez, to award particularly high scoring units the the Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon.

"One particularly difficult scenario we placed our units into was also a test of the new Lasitasuna fighters from Kundrati," said General Adams. "This game pitted the 12th Maritime Air Wing in Yoshimi against elements of the 3rd Regular Fleet in the Strait. We wanted to see how the Air Units would respond to overwhelming force arrayed against a small unit that was almost out of fuel and ammunition in a life or death situation. On the naval side, they wanted to see how the navy would react to a small but determined force bent on their utter destruction. Not only did the air force completely decimate the naval elements by crippling their ships (in simulation, of course), but 'sunk' a destroyer and depth charged three submarines. The level of improvisation and unorthodox tactics and raw flying skill in the combat scenario was truly impressive, and I am quite proud of our airmen and women." For the record, the navy "shot down" only six fighters in the wing of 74. "It wasn't Navy's best day."

This is not to say that the other branches did not do well. The Naval Battery also consisted of new parts of their mission, including submarine detection and interception, surface to surface missile artillery, and shore bombardment, among other things, and the Regular Army's battery included sections on irregular tactics usually reserved for the Militia. The Marine Units of the Militia, which are not typically scored by the Battery, given their attachment to the Militia, nonetheless were also outstanding, and excelled primarily in boarding of both surface and submerged ships, naval demolitions, and clandestine ship and air launched insertion tactics.

The success of the Air Force in this year's Battery is vindication of Empress Nicolette's vision of the force as a professional force capable of enhancing the defense capabilities of the Empire. His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Fredrick II Ananto, was reportedly on hand to observe the drills during the entire month, and has also expressed his confidence in and support for continued and varied training opportunities. "Kalistan is ready for whatever anyone throws at it," said General Adams. "It is our everlasting hope that as long as we continue to do what we do, nobody ever dares test the Kalistani Regular Forces."