Patriot Hook's a success

Soldiers from the Army’s 304th Sustainment Brigade stationed at March Air Reserve Base, Calif., get off a bus to board a C-17 Globemaster III that will take them to San Clemente Island to participate in exercise Patriot Hook. The five days of training took place at three California airfields and allowed military branches to come together to practice operational capabilities in a deployed setting. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sarah N. Sutliff

Patriot Hook's a joint success

Several members of Navy and Air Force Reserve forces utilize the Naval Air Station, North Island, flightline to upload “Mystic,” a Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle, onto a C-5 Galaxy from Travis Air Force Base, Calif. The reservists are all participating in Patriot Hook 2007. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mary D. Woolstenhulme

Patriot Hook's a joint success

Tech. Sgt. Reynaldo Gumarang, a KC-135 Stratotanker Boom Operator from the 452nd Air Lift Control Flight, sets up communications at San Clemente Island, Calif. Sergeant Gumarang was participating in Patriot Hook 2007, a joint services exercise led by the Air Force Reserve Command. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mary D. Woolstenhulme

Patriot Hook offers joint training in California

Published Aug. 2, 2007
By Capt. Caroline Lorimer
452nd Air Mobility Wing PA

MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. -- Staging out of three sites in California, more than 300 military people moved about 1.5 million pounds of cargo in mid-July as part of a joint-service, air-mobility and contingency-response exercise.

Patriot Hook featured Air Force reservists, Sailors, Soldiers, and Coast Guard and Federal Emergency Management Agency people. The five-day exercise tested their security, disaster and medical response skills at San Clemente Island Navy Auxiliary Landing Field, North Island Naval Air Station and March ARB.

The Air Force reservists came from airlift control flights at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and McChord AFB, Wash., as well as March ARB.

"It was one of the largest exercises involving three ALCFs," said Master Sgt. Gerardo Zuniga, mission support team chief for the 452nd ALCF. "The airlift control flights were able to train on such a big scale it was almost proportional to a theater movement."

The purpose of the annual training is to bring academic training to life. Throughout the year, the Patriot Hook players trained to move people and equipment.

"They actually get to apply what they've learned from their classes into real-world situations," said Senior Master Sgt. Edwin Perkins, superintendent of the tanker/airlift control element for the 452nd ALCF.

The TALCEs moved Boston Whaler boats, ambulances, wreckers, dump trucks, flat-bed trucks and other needed equipment on C-17 Globemaster IIIs, KC-135 Stratotankers and C-5 Galaxies.

"On a scale of one to 10, it was a 10," said Sergeant Perkins, commenting on the scope of the exercise.

The Patriot Hook exercise program began in the early 1990s in response to limited training opportunities. It has since become an annual event.

"It allows affiliates to practice mobilization and air deployment, train in a realistic environment, practice force protection, and it's great for morale," said Lt. Col. Buck Kaplan, 452nd ALCF commander.

According to Sergeant Perkins, the 2007 Patriot Hook went flawlessly and exceeded training objectives.

"The best part of the exercise was giving [the affiliates] the training they needed to get their equipment and personnel out of town, said Sergeant Perkins.

"I loved it," added Sergeant Zuniga. "My favorite part of the job is getting people out of town. I'm really looking forward to next year." (Air Force Reserve Command)