2015 – 2020 Operation Inherent Resolve

The 292^nd Combat Communications Squadron also deployed in January 2015 in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE.

– 2015 Annual Report pp. 19

Hawaiian Raptors Deploy to Central Command Area of Responsibility

Story by Lt. Col. Charles Anthony Photos by A1C Robert Cabuco

Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii- More than 200 members of the Hawaii Air National Guard (HIANG) and the active duty Air Force as well as an undisclosed number of F-22 Raptors, based at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam have deployed to the Central Command Area of Responsibility (CENTCOM AOR). The F-22 fighter aircraft and most of the Airmen departed from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Sept. 26. For security reasons, this deployment was announced only after the F-22 Raptors and Airmen arrived at the CENTCOM AOR base they will operate from for the next six months. Because of security considerations and host nation sensitivities, the HIANG will not release the base nor country where the Raptors are operating from, nor will the HIANG release the number of F-22 fighters that are deployed.

The Hawaiian Raptors are flown by pilots from the HIANG’s 199^th Fighters Squadron and the active duty’s 19^th Fighter Squadron. Maintenance and other support personnel are from the HIANG’s 154^th Wing and the active duty’s 15^th Wing. This is the first operational deployment for the Hawaiian Raptors. In 2010, the 199^th Fighter Squadron converted to the F-22 from the F-15 Eagle and began flying the Raptors in partnership with the 19^th Fighter Squadron. This is the first combat deployment for the 199^th Fighter Squadron since it deployed to Saudi Arabia in 2000 to patrol the southern no-fly zone of Iraq. The 19^th Fighter Squadron last deployed to Southwest Asia in 1992.

The CENTCOM AOR encompasses the area of Southwest Asia and most of the Middle East.

While some of the Hawaiian Raptors are deployed, the HIANG will continue to perform its 24 hour a day/365 days per year air defense mission, as some of the F-22s have remained in Hawaii.

– 2015 October Pūpūkahi pp. 1

Welcome Home Hawaiian Raptors

Story and Photos by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Oelrich
15th Wing Public Affairs

“It is good to be home,” said an aircraft maintainer from the 154th Maintenance Squadron. “I think that everyone did an amazing job out there. It’s unbelievable to see my family, my sons have doubled in sizes. I can’t wait to be around my family, have some good food and go to the beach.”

The Hawaiian Raptors are made up of F-22 pilots from the 199th Fighter Squadron and the active-duty 19th Fighter Squadron and are supported by the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Maintenance Squadron and the active-duty 15th Maintenance Squadron.

The deployment to the Central Command area of responsibility, marked the first operational deployment for the Hawaiian Raptors. The Central Command area of responsibility encompasses Southwest Asia and most of the Middle East. While deployed, the F-22 Raptors successfully struck a number of high-value ISIS (also known as Daesh or ISIL) targets. The Hawaiian Raptors were an integral part of Operation Inherent Resolve.

Operation Inherent Resolve is an 18-nation air coalition that is driving ISIS back considerably in Iraq and Syria. ISIS has lost more than 40 percent of the populated areas it once controlled in northern Iraq and recently retreated from several key populations centers in Syria.

“Our people performed extremely well and they did it with the Aloha spirit. Maintenance did an outstanding job, and made all their taskings. We integrated well with the other coalition forces and conducted our operations flawlessly,” said one of the Hawaii Air National Guard’s pilots.

The F-22 fighter aircraft and the Airmen of the Hawaiian Raptors started this mission by departing from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in late September 2015 and all redeployed by April 8.

– 2016 May Pupukahi pp. 1

Welcome Home Re-fuelers

Photos by Tech. Sgt. Andrew Jackson Story By Senior Airman Orlando Corpuz
Hawaii Air National Guard Public Affairs

More than 50 Hawaii Air National Guard members and three KC-135 Stratotankers from the HIANG 203^rd Air Refueling Squadron returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam June 16 and 20 following a deployment to Southwest Asia.

The Airmen were deployed for four months in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

Homecoming began when one group of Airman and one tanker arrived here June 16, June 20 marked the full celebration as the remaining Airmen and tankers arrived home to JBPH-H.

The Airmen were greeted in the Hawaii sunshine by family, friends, and the 154th Wing Commander, Brig. Gen. Gregory Woodrow.

“It’s great to have our Airmen home, they represented the HIANG and the nation with honor and distinction.” said Woodrow. “I consistently get incredibly positive feedback on the professionalism and Aloha our members bring to the fight. Way to represent while serving the nation’s call!”

HIANG’s 203^rd Air Refueling Squadron, along with flight and maintenance crews and other support personnel from the 154^th Wing were part of an 18-nation air coalition engaged in the fight against Daesh or ISIS.

Aerial refueling makes it possible to extend the range and persistence of coalition air operations in Iraq and Syria, enabling the United States and coalition aircraft to maintain a 24/7 presence over areas of Daesh operations. The 203^rd ARS has deployed to the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility numerous times. This latest deployment was part of an Air Expeditionary Force rotation.

– 2016 June Pupukahi pp. 1

Hawaii Air Refuelers Arrive Home

154th Wing Public Affairs
Story by Senior Airman Orlando Corpuz – Friday, November 10, 2017

Airmen from the Hawaii Air National Guard and three KC-135 Stratotankers recently returned home following a six-month deployment to the Middle East in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

Airmen and aircraft from the 203^rd Air Refueling Squadron, along with Maintenance and support personnel from the 154^th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and 154^th Maintenance Squadron returned over the course of a week with the first group of airmen and aircraft arriving on October 30 and a second group celebrating the homecoming on November 5.

Deployment durations for individual Airmen ranged from more than two months to six months. In all, more than 90 HIANG airmen deployed during the six month period.

While deployed the airmen refueled U.S. and other coalition aircraft striking ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria.

“It’s what we train for every day,” said a returning 203 ARS boom operator. For security purposes the HIANG is not releasing the names of any of airmen that deployed. “We forward deploy around the world and give gas when needed.”

The aircrews flew more than 300 missions, off loading more than seven million pounds of fuel to just over 600 aircraft, and in the process logged in over 2100 flight hours.

Aerial refueling is essential to U.S. air operations around the world. The refueling allows fighter jets and other aircraft to remain over the battlefield longer, which allows greater support to U.S. and coalition forces fighting on the ground.

“Air refueling is one of the most vital portions of the effort over in the Middle East that we are performing,” said a returning 203 ARS pilot. “Without air refueling, basically nothing can get done.”

Just as with all deployments, team work played a vital role in mission success.

“We had great camaraderies there‘s lots of great people over there in the Middle East right now serving our country.” a 203 ARS pilot said.

– 2018 Spring Pupukahi pp. 17

The Hawai’i Army National Guard saw its largest deployment numbers since 2008 with the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team deploying to Kosovo, the 1-299th Cavalry deploying to Egypt, the 1-487th Field Artillery deploying to Afghanistan and the 189th Aviation deploying in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

– 2019 Annual Report pp. 1

Detachment 1, Company G, 1st Battalion, 189th Aviation Regiment and Detachment 1, Company G, 1st Battalion, 126 Aviation Regiment

Deployed ISO Operation Inherent Resolve from June 2018 – May 2019.

– 2019 Annual Report pp. 13