Eagles, Falcons take to Hawaii skies

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo
  • Air Force Print News
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AFPN) --  Eagles and Falcons, the U.S. Air Force's premier "birds of prey," faced off in a two week air to air exercise called "Sentry Aloha" over the skies of Hawaii.

F-15 Eagles from the Hawaii Air National Guard's 199th Fighter Squadron and F-16 Fighting Falcons from the Texas Air National Guard's 149th Fighter Wing participated in the exercise that brought dissimilar combat assets together to train at Hickam.

"The purpose of Sentry Aloha is to provide the Hawaii Guard F-15 pilot's with training opportunities to fly against different types of fighters," said Chief Master Sgt. Craig Harimoto, Sentry Aloha liaison non-commissioned officer in charge.

Due to the amount of local assets available on the islands, it's difficult for the Hawaii ANG to complete all of their required air-to-air training, resulting in the National Guard Bureau and Pacific Air Forces funding units to deploy and support the Hawaii ANG's training.

To fulfill training needs, the 149th FW deployed approximately 75 airmen and six F-16C's. After their arrival both squadrons began a full flying schedule of training scenarios. Flying over 70 sorties during the two-week exercise, these scenarios were designed not only to test the pilots but hone their skills against aircraft with different capabilities and aircrews trained in different techniques and tactics.

The training included large adversary air to air threat scenarios incorporating four F-16's two C-17's two KC-135's and two B-52's bombers launched from Guam. The Hawaii ANG's part in the exercise put them in protection scenarios of simulated airdrops and ensuring the delivery of high value assets for the heavy aircraft. The air-to-air exercise also put them "on the front line" hunting B-52's playing the role of simulated adversary bomber formations attacking the island chain.

"The Hawaii Air Guard pilots are doing an outstand job of scenario management and mission success with overwhelming odds," said Lt. Col. Michael McCoy, 149th Fighter Wing project officer. "In return we are given several missions where we are getting the Hawaii Air Guard to provide us with adversary support for our instructor pilots to brush up on their air-to-air skills," he said.

"The air space is really a strength to training in Hawaii," said Lt. Col. McCoy "We train 100 plus miles off shore which allows us to train supersonic and ultra high altitudes which is difficult to do on the mainland," he said.

As host, the Hawaii Air National Guard is the primary means of support during the exercise for visiting Guard and Reserve units. They provide the Aloha Operations building complete with a briefing rooms, life support, maintenance debrief, auditorium and a full kitchen for deployed units to prepare meals for their people working on the flight line.