Department of Defense

Hawaii Air National Guard pilots flew combat patrols over the southern no-fly zone of Iraq

– 2001 Annual Report pp. 1

Allied operational missions take Hawaii Air National Guard to Balkans, Persian Gulf

By Capt. Charles J. Anthony

Hawaii Air National Guard (HIANG) personnel have been deploy ing to several far-flung places of the world, mostly with little fanfare, as they participate in Aerospace Expeditionary Forces nine and ten. AB part of AEF 10, 204th Airlift Squadron flight crews and maintenance personnel from the 154th Aircraft Generation Squadron have deployed to Germany; 154th Security Force Squadron personnel have gone to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey; videographers from the 154th Communications Flight have practiced their skills while at Aviano Air Base, Italy; and, a forecaster from the 199th Weather Flight helped provide weather reports to flyers at Incirlik.

“We provided entry control and close boundary security for aircraft on the flightline as well as mobile patrols,” said Staff Sgt. Dulcie Hale, one of 26 members of the Hawaii security force who deployed to Turkey between Oct. 22 and Nov. 17. “Everything was exactly the same compared with the active-duty. We were treated very well by active (Air Force) personnel, and we worked sideby-side with security forces from Lackland and Nellis,” said Hale, who had prior service with the active-duty Air Force before joining the Hawaii Guard.

Allied aircraft have been flying patrols over the northern no-fly zone of lraq as part of Operation NORTHERN WATCH. The 154th SFS members were restricted to base for the first two days at Incirlik because of Threatcon Charlie measures in place, but they were able to take in some limited sight-seeing the last few days they were in Turkey.

The 204th Airlift Squadron: deployed to Ramstein Air Base, Germany and flew resupply missions for “the NATO Peacekeeping operation in the Balkans. “our crews flew missions that took us through towering mountain peaks of the Alps and into fog shrouded valleys of sarajevo and Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Skopje, Macedonia, to name a few,” said. Chief Master Sgt. Sam Wong 204th, chief loadmaster. “Every aspect of the operation allowed air crews and maintainers alike, the opportunity to integrate with our active duty counterparts, as well as with crews from the Alaska and West Virginia ANG C-130 units,” said Wong. All missions were flown on time and no cancellations due to maintenance. maintenance and life support staff worked 12 hour shifts to ensure that the aircraft was always ready for the next mission. “Working with the maintenance personnel from other units proved to be a unique learning experience,” said Staff Sgt. Paul Kalama. “We were able to exchange processes and ideas in our maintenance functions, which allowed us to function as a team.”

The largest and most visible deployment for AEF 9 involved approximately 250 members of the 199th Fighter Squaidron, 154th Maintenance Squadron and 154th Aircraft Generation Squadron who deployed to the Persian Gulf region around thanksgiving with a scheduled return date of Dec. 14. F-15 pilots from
are Currently providing defense for coalition aircraft enforcing the southern no-fly zone of Iraq, as part of Opperation SOUTHERN WATCH. “This operation is helping to keep Saddam Hussein in check. Saddam Hussein is an angry and frustrated man because he has tried to shoot down a coalition flyer for the past ten years, but he has not been able to,” said Maj. Rojo Johnson, a 199th fighter pilot. “We’re going to do everything can we to ensure that all of our people come back safely,” added Johnson, who led the main body of airmen who departed Hickam Air Force Base on Nov. 24. “Our maintenance folks have been doing an outstanding job keeping our jets flying and the required maintenance work completed on time,” said Lt. Col. James “Bat” Drake, the detachment commander. “We have been filling all our tasking plus getting in a few training sorties here than there when the mission allows the break.” said Drake.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Due to the U.S. and host nation diplomatic agreement. U.S. military units are not authorized to announce the exact location(s) where our units deployed for AEF. Therefore, all references in the pupukahi are generic, such as “Persian Gulf region.”

– 2000 October- December Pūpūkahi pp. 1 & 4-5

Command Notes

I especially want to thank the members of the 199th Fighter Squadron, 154th Maintenance Squadron, and 154th Aircraft Generation Squadron who deployed to Southwest Asia in the predawn hours the day after Thanksgiving. The holiday season is a time when it’s especially appropriate for families to be together. Our HIANG members volunteered for the Operation SOUTHERN WATCH mission, despite the hardships, so that others from the active duty could be with their families. Volunteering for that deployment was a tremendously selfless act, and I want to say to our own family members how much your understanding is appreciated. Again, a big mahalo goes to our professional soldiers and airmen!

– 2000 October- December Pūpūkahi pp. 2

Communications personnel deploy to Persian Gulf Region

Members of the Hawaii Air National Guard began deploying to the Persian Gulf region in February as part of a scheduled rotation of troops supporting Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. Following the Persian Gulf War, coalition forces, under the auspices of the United Nations, imposed no-fly zones in the northern and southern sectors of Iraq. The southern no fly zone was imposed to prevent Iraqi aircraft from flying and large-scale Iraqi troop movements below the 33rd parallel.

Approximately 40 airmen from the 201st Combat Communications Group, will be taking part. Most are deploying for approximately three weeks. Rotations will continue through early May. Several other HIANG members Italy, Germany and Turkey to support U.S. Air Force operations.

The first rotation of Hawaii airmen was from the 291st Combat Communications Squadron, based in Hilo. Senior Airman Glen Gebin is a drill-status satellite and wide-band communications apprentice with the 291st, who volunteered for the deployment. He plans to pursue an Associates Degree in electronics from Hilo Community College after returning from the Persian Gulf. “I like exploring the world,” said Gebin, a Hilo native. “I’ve been to Thailand and Korea with the Air Guard, but this will be my first deployment to the Persian Gulf,” said Gebin. Staff Sgt. Lawrence Fong is a drill-status member of the 291st who works full-time for Suisan, wholesale food distributors, as a data processor. During the month of March, he will be working alongside his active-duty counterparts in the Persian Gulf area in computer operations. Fong says he looks at this deployment as an opportunity to learn new techniques while serving on active-duty. Fong says his bosses in Hilo are being “very supportive” while he serves his country.

The 201st Combat Communications Group is comprised of units at Hickam Air Force Base, as well as Kalaeloa, Kahului and Hilo. Its federal mission is to provide secure microwave and satellite communications and air traffic control services to the U.S. Air Force and other U.S. military forces.

– 2001 January – March Pūpūkahi pp. 1 & 3

Security Forces guarding central command

By Maj. Charles J. Anthony

Members of the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Security Forces Squadron are an integral part of the team that is defending one of the most secure air bases in the world. The Hawaii airmen are currently on active duty at an air base in the Persian Gulf region.

The U.S. Air Force controls several portions of a sprawling, 250 square mile air base in the middle of the desert. Entry into the American sectors of the base is strictly controlled, as U.S. and coalition forces must pass through a series of security checkpoints. Security Forces airmen are posted at these entry control points and search all vehicles transiting between coalition sectors.

U.S. and ether coalition forces were engaged in Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. The operation has been in effect since the end of the Persian Gulf War but the air base has taken on an even greater significance as the U.S. builds up its forces in the region.

Senior Airman Kalani Kaikala, a graduate of Campbell High School, is typical of the HIANG citizen-airman who has been deployed to the Persian Gulf region. Kaikala was called to active duty the day after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. He deployed to a U.S. air base within Central Command’s area of responsibility last year for 90 days. He returned home for just a few weeks in the fall of 2002, before deploying again with other unit members to the Persian Gulf in December. With war with Iraq underway, Kaikala and other
members of the HIANG are now facing an extended stay in the Gulf. “The hours are long, and I’ve only had one day off for a while, said Kaikala, in a matter-of-fact way. Despite the difficult conditions often during cold, winter nights, he is not complaining. He knows that what he is doing is important to U.S. strategic interests, although he does look forward to returning home and resuming his civilian jobs at AKAL Security and National Car Rental.

Senior Airman Ryan Ramoran-Schreiner, a 2000 graduate of Pearl City High School, has not yet had a chance to begin his civilian career. He joined the HIANG after graduation, finished his technical school in May 2001 and was activated right after Sept. 11th. He has been on active duty since. “I’ve got a lot of family on Maui, and I missed not being home for Christmas. l haven’t been home very much for the past two years, said Ramoran-Schreiner. “Besides family, mostly I miss the local-style food- spam and rice, the Chinese seeds.” Ramoran-Schreiner and the other members of the HIANG security forces squadron say their biggest challenge is keeping things interesting. “It’s like the movie Groundhog Day, the the same day repeated over and over again. We need to focus on the mission and maintain our edge.”

For U.S. and coalition forces deployed in the Persian Gulf, their safety depends on security forces personnel maintaining that edge.

– 2003 January – March Pūpūkahi) pp. 4