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Hawaii Air National Guard Group Enhances Warfighting Skills

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Robert Cabuco
  • 154th Wing, Hawaii Air National Guard

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii - The Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Mission Support Group conducted a comprehensive training exercise to enhance warfighting skills and readiness.

The Feb. 1-2 “readiness rodeo” reinforced tasks learned from Readiness Airman Training and applied Agile Combat Employment competencies.

The initial day of training encompassed critical topics such as base defense, incident reporting, accountability checks, tactical combat casualty care, communications and explosive ordnance hazards. Participants were instructed on comprehensive Airman fitness, including family readiness and psychological health, and applied it in field training the next day.

“The primary goal of this training is to develop and enhance Airmen’s warfighting skills,” said Col. Glen Hayase, commander of the 154th MSG. “Our approach is to offer Airmen from across the group an opportunity to learn and practice essential survival and operational skills in an expeditionary environment. Additionally, we aimed to train for and validate several mission-essential tasks for multiple units, which we accomplished. I am proud of the Airmen who participated, undertook new roles, and stepped out of their comfort zones. I am also very grateful to the team who planned and led the event.”

The main objective was to deploy to an undisclosed location, secure an operational base and prepare for the arrival of fighter aircraft and U.S. Air Force personnel. 

Personnel defended the base from opposition forces and set up operations for follow-on forces. The exercise included simulated ground assaults and air attacks to test participants’ readiness and response capabilities.

The service members incorporated a hub and spoke deployment construct, allowing Airmen to practice securing and operating from a central location while supporting dispersed operational sites.

In the hot, humid environment, participants put on protective equipment and navigated simulated chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats. 

The training emphasized communication, teamwork and preparedness for rapid forward deployment to bare bases. 

Chief Master Sgt. Sean Johnson, senior enlisted leader of the 154th MSG, said the training reinforced critical readiness skills and prepared Airmen for future exercises to tackle new mission-essential tasks and enhance command and control, accountability and control center operations. 

The exercise concluded with an after-action brief and feedback session.

Lt. Col. Jesse Park, deputy commander of the 154th MSG, said participants maintained a positive attitude and used teamwork to accomplish the objectives.

“We will explore ways to enhance the curriculum and provide Airmen consistent opportunities to develop proficiency in 12 [fundamental] ready training areas,” Park said.

The Security Forces, Logistic Readiness, Force Support, Communication and Civil Engineering squadrons helped plan and execute the exercise, enhancing wartime readiness for rapidly establishing and sustaining airfield operations.