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TALON internship program connects ROTC cadets across the nation with flight test mission

412th Test Wing

Aug. 19, 2026 | 3:04

For five ROTC cadets across America, summer was spent in the Mojave Desert learning about cutting-edge aerospace systems and flight test fundamentals at Edwards Air Force Base. The Test and Analysis Leaders of the Next Generation (TALON) internship program, launched under the Stanford AI Studio and executed through the Air Force Reserve Command’s 370th Flight Test Squadron, aims to unmask the mysteries associated with testing while inspiring the next generation of leaders.

Selected through a highly competitive national-level competition, applicants were selected based on their academic excellence, leadership potential and demonstrated commitment to service. The cadets took part in unique immersions across America’s most important aerospace priorities, from the B-21 Raider to the Benefield Anechoic Chamber, while receiving dedicated mentorship from airmen and government civilians across the test enterprise. The summer concluded with a final project developed from their hands-on contributions to ongoing test projects at Edwards.