Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  State Partnership Program
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Hawaii Air National Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Joint Exercise By Tech. Sgt. John Linzmeier,
                154th Wing, Hawaii Air National Guard
 JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii - The Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing concluded the latest iteration of its ongoing fighter exercise, Sentry Aloha 24-2, June 12 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. This two-week National Guard Bureau training event brought together more than 1,000 participants from nine states and four service branches, providing essential combat training to joint and total-forces units. Aircraft operated across the islands of Oahu, including Marine Corps Base Hawaii and Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole. Visiting fighter and attack aircraft included A-10 Warthogs and F-16 Fighting Falcons from the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Test Center, F-16s from the 177th Fighter Wing and F-35A Lighting IIs from the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron. These aircraft joined the 154th Wing’s locally based F-22 Raptors, operated by the 199th and 19th Fighter Squadrons. This year’s iteration was built around a concept known as distributed mission planning and operations, enabling participants to operate with more autonomy as warfighters accomplished combat objectives. Maj. Michael ‘Deuce’ Oliver, Sentry Aloha exercise director, said this strategic shift challenged them to employ decentralized and flexible practices in dynamic combat environments while facing the threat of advanced enemy aircraft. Daily training sorties focused on air-to-air combat, featuring large-scale combat simulations against adversarial red air forces and integration with friendly blue air forces. Several scenarios included blue air fighters protecting A-10 aircraft conducting air-to-ground strikes. These operations took place on the Pohakuloa Training Area on Hawaii Island, with Airmen from the 25th Air Support Operations Squadron on the ground coordinating close air support strikes with the escorted Warthogs. In addition to the air-to-ground strikes, maritime strike missions were conducted alongside the U.S. Navy. Both scenarios incorporated the support of a U.S. Marine Corps MQ-9A from Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3. The UAV’s advanced airborne sensors and communication node provided intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information to red and blue air participants throughout the training. The Hawaii ANG’s 169th Air Defense Squadron monitored and relayed battlespace information for each training objective. They upheld command and control to ensure real-time situational awareness and coordinated responses to evolving threats. “Exercises like this are exactly what we need to allow us to operate at a much larger scale and as a joint force,” said Tech. Sgt. Kukila Carreira-Manin, 169th ADS weapons director. “This also gave us an opportunity to integrate with more expeditionary Air National Guard members from [continental United States], such as the 128th, 116th and 109th Air Control Squadrons, as well as 3d LAAB Marines stationed at Kaneohe Bay and MACS-4 out of Okinawa, Japan. “We’re not going to win the fight as a single branch, “said Carreira-Manin. “We as military members on all levels must continue to work together as one to ensure we are relevant and ready in the race for Great Power Competition.” Fighter activity was maintained through air-to-air refueling by local and visiting tanker aircraft, including KC-135 Stratotankers and KC-46A Pegasus airframes. C-130 aircraft variants from the Air Force Reserve Test Center and the 129th Rescue Wing delivered logistical supplies for operations in remote locations. Throughout the exercise, AATC tested a developing communication system with airframes like the KC-135, known as Link 16. This system facilitates seamless data exchange between aircraft and other sensors, enhancing situational awareness and coordination. The integration of Link 16 on atypical aircraft like tankers during the exercise demonstrated the potential to revolutionize communication strategies in combat scenarios. Despite a smaller footprint of “Hawaiian Raptors” due to off-island deployments, the exercise minimized the impact on general aviation at Honolulu International Airport by dispersing aircraft across multiple locations. This added complexity to the operations, showcasing the capabilities of conducting distributed planning and ensuring secure communications provided by members of the Hawaii ANG’s 291st and 292nd Combat Communications Squadrons and National Guard augmentees from around the nation. Key achievements included numerous mission commander upgrades and mission qualification training for the participating fighter squadrons. Sentry Aloha will increase the 154th Wing’s readiness to support security initiatives throughout the Indo-Pacific Theater and beyond. “We’ve gotten quite a lot done over the past two weeks and are glad to see that many are walking away with some significant milestones checked off,” said Oliver. “Our hope is that the immense value gained from these experiences will inspire everyone to return for more opportunities to fly with us, the Hawaiian Raptors, again for more world-class training.”
 SHARE
 PRINT
  Hawaii Air National Guard
 Sentry Aloha
 Washington Guard, Royal Thai Army Conduct Expert Exchange State Partnership Program • 4 days ago
 Western Air Defense Sector Wraps Up Enduring Partners Exercise State Partnership Program • 7 days ago
 Pennsylvania Guard, Lithuania Strengthen Partnership State Partnership Program • 11 days ago
 Nevada National Guard Holds Workshop for New Partner Samoa State Partnership Program • 12 days ago
 Tennessee Guard Participates in Thracian Warrior Exercise State Partnership Program • 12 days ago
 2024 (69)  2023 (157)  2022 (128)  2021 (77)  2020 (50)  2019 (87)  2018 (75)  2017 (52)  2016 (47)  2015 (48)  2014 (65)  2013 (47)  2012 (68)  2011 (64)  2010 (71)  2009 (3)  2008 (11)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil