Sentry Aloha puts fighter integration to the test

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Orlando Corpuz
  • 154th Wing Public Affairs

The Hawaii Air National Guard (HIANG) has completed its first large-scale “Sentry Aloha” fighter exercise of 2018. The training sorties ran from Jan. 10 to Jan. 24 in and around the air spaces surrounding Hawaii.

Sentry Aloha is an ongoing series of exercises hosted by the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing. It aims to provide the ANG, Air Force and DOD counterparts with multi-faceted, joint venue, fighter integration training that incorporates current and realistic training to equip the warfighter with the skillsets necessary to fly, fight and win.

According Maj. Kenneth Peterson, Sentry Aloha exercise director for the 154 WG, the scenarios put a premium on integration.

“One of the most valuable aspects of Sentry Aloha is the ability to bring together a wide range of air assets,” said Peterson. “We’re able to work out and hone the skills and procedures needed to effectively integrate 4th and 5th generation air assets.”

Sentry Aloha exercises are conducted by the HIANG several times a year. This Sentry Aloha iteration involved close to 1000 personnel and just over 40 aircraft from six other states.

“Large scale exercises such as Sentry Aloha are complex and require a good amount of planning and coordination,” Peterson said. “From logistics and support functions to the maintenance operations that keep the aircraft air and combat ready. All aspects of the air enterprise are put to the test and as result receive invaluable training from the experience.”

Visiting units included tanker support from Oklahoma and Iowa, F-16 Falcons from Alaska, F-15 Eagles from California and E-3 Sentry (AWACS) from Oklahoma as well as U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornets. The visiting aircraft took part in simulated combat sorties with F-22 Raptors flown by the HIANG’s 199th Fighter Squadron and active duty 19th Fighter Squadron.

Over 400 sorties were flown, accounting for nearly 800 hours of flight time during the two-week exercise.

“Everyone involved played a huge role in making this Sentry Aloha a success.” said Peterson.