JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HAWAII, UNITED STATES
04.15.2026
Story by Airman 1st Class Lydia Tristan
154th Wing, Hawaii Air National Guard
The 154th Civil Engineer Squadron (154CES) and the 297th Combat Airfield Operations Squadron (297CAOS) teamed up for a Joint Field Training Exercise at Bellows Air Force Station (AFS) April 9th-12th.
Dubbed the Bellows AFS Super Drill, the training tested and validated the unit’s ability to deploy, establish independent operations, and sustain the mission. Personnel sharpened critical wartime skills by building a fully self-sustaining encampment that simulated a forward operating base.
“During this exercise, airmen engaged in a variety of hands-on activities designed to simulate a real-world, contested deployment,” said Senior Master Sgt. George Demesillo, 297th Combat Airfield Operations Squadron logistics planner. “These activities are structured to test both individual skills and unit cohesion under pressure.”
The FTX pushed the 154CES into a high-tempo environment where skill sets were tested against simulated threats and stormy tropical weather. Personnel maintained a rigorous base defense posture against ground and air assaults, while inside Unit Control Centers, leadership navigated the complexities of Command and Control through numerous drills including operating with compromised communication channels.
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