HONOLULU – Some 35 aircraft and 1,000 people from eight states participated in Sentry Aloha exercise training hosted by the Hawaii Air National Guard's 154th Wing.
Sentry Aloha is an ongoing series of exercises providing tailored, cost-effective and realistic combat training for Air National Guard, U.S. Air Force, and other Department of Defense services. It gives U.S. warfighters the skill sets necessary to perform homeland defense and overseas combat missions.
F-22 Raptors belonging to the Hawaii-based 199th and 19th Fighter Squadrons participated in exercises conducted with F-15 Eagles from the California Air National Guard and F-16 Fighting Falcons from Alaska, along with radar aircraft from Oklahoma and KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling support from the Wisconsin Air National Guard.
Sentry Aloha exercises include back-to-back combat sorties with visiting aircraft from the U.S. Air Force's active, Guard and Reserve components. The training provides participants a multifaceted joint venue with supporting infrastructure and personnel.
Military leaders observing the exercise on the Hickam runway Jan. 21 included Maj. Gen. Kenneth S. Hara, adjutant general of Hawaii; Col. Stephen F. Logan, deputy adjutant general; California Adjutant General Brig. Gen. Gregory F. Jones; Col. Michael Blake, 154th Operations Group commander; Col. James S. Shigekane, 154th Operations Group vice commander; Hawaii National Guard Senior Enlisted Leader CSMG Dana Wingad; and 154th Wing Command Chief Master Sgt. Carrol Orr.