HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii -- Pilots and support people from Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., are training with the Hawaii Air National Guard's 199th Fighter Squadron in exercise Cactus Aloha.
Cactus Aloha is a dissimilar aircraft combat tactics training exercise, in which Air Force Reserve Command F-16s from Homestead are pitted against Guard F-15s. Each aircraft has distinct flying and fighting capabilities, affording both units the chance to experience training against a different platform than their own.
The exercise is providing lessons that the reservists of Homestead's 93rd Fighter Squadron and 482nd Maintenance Group can't frequently get at home.
"This type of training allows everyone involved, from pilots to maintainers to support personnel, the opportunity to work in a different environment, face unique challenges and be prepared to carry the mission wherever it's needed," said 1st Lt. Dan Moreno, 482nd Operations Group executive officer.
Among the maintainers, morale remains high, despite being on the road. Troops have found their temporary home in Hawaii to be very welcoming.
"The weather and scenery have been great," said Tech. Sgt. Phil Vargas, an F-16 crew chief. "We've adapted pretty well to working here. The Hawaii Air National Guard personnel have been very hospitable."
The 199th FS hosts a number of units for "Aloha" exercises throughout the year. In fact, the Aloha name is carried through all of the exercises. The only difference is that when the 199th is training against other ANG units, the exercise is called "Sentry Aloha."
The logistics involved are mind-boggling. From coordinating transport, equipment, aircraft, people and facilities, to keeping up with, and maintaining all of it, requires a small army of people on both ends.
"Cactus Aloha" liaison Chief Master Sgt. Craig Harimoto is among those helping to make the exercise more manageable. His laid back management style makes a complex and challenging task look simple.
"This job is fun and interesting," Chief Harimoto said. "I came from a maintenance background, then wing safety, to this. All of these people have been good to work with."
Cactus Aloha ends Aug. 26, when the Homestead team and equipment head back to Florida. (AFRC News Service)
USAF. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Rosario "Charo" Gutierrez)