JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM -- Active duty and Air National Guard Airmen joined forces in a Warrior Day July 31 to demonstrate the cooperation and capabilities of total force integration here.
The day featured the participation of 15th Wing C-17 Globemasters III and F-22 Raptors from the 199th fight squadron, as well as KC-10 Extenders from Travis Air Force Base, California, and tested the ability for the aircrafts and personnel to work together to complete a mission.
"Warrior Day is a chance for all the members and different aircraft to get together and integrate," said Capt. Justin Taylor, the 535th Airlift Squadron number three aircraft lead in the five ships of C-17s. "It gives us the opportunity to fly together to execute a common mission on a scenario that our 15th Wing put together for us."
The Warrior Day training schedule began with a pre-mission brief, which brought together all the participants of the training, covered all projected scenarios and provided an overview of the day's events.
Training simulations included combat maneuvers in a hostile environment, air drops and refueling operations. It also included an engine- running crew change of three of the C-17s.
"I thought it turned out fantastic," said Maj. John Reed, a 535th AS C-17 pilot and assistant director of operations. "That was the most air drop sorties we've ever flown in one day at Hickam."
However, Warrior Day wasn't just a training opportunity for the flying squadron. The day also gave maintenance Airmen a change to showcase their capabilities in a realistic training scenario.
The 15th and 154th aircraft maintenance squadrons generated the five C-17 and four F-22 aircraft used during the Warrior Day training.
"There is a lot of preparation put into each aircraft for something like Warrior Day," said Tech. Sgt. Ryan Barlowe, 15th AMXS expediter. "It is more than just the Airmen launching that morning. It takes about 24 hours of preparation to get the aircraft ready to fly."
Warrior Day concluded as the last aircraft was inspected by the Airmen of the maintenance squadrons.
"I think Warrior Day is beneficial," Barlowe said. "It shows our capabilities to generate aircraft, and it is cool to watch five jets take off at the same time and know that you played a part in that. I know my Airmen feel the same way."