Stolen Cerberus XII strengthens US-Hellenic interoperability in Greece

Published May 16, 2025
By Senior Airman Brenden Beezley
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

ELEFSINA AIR BASE, Greece (AFNS) --

Exercise Stolen Cerberus XII, a bilateral training event involving members of the U.S. Air Force and Hellenic armed forces, concluded at Elefsina Air Base, May 7.

The two-week exercise, hosted annually by the 37th Airlift Squadron, aims to enhance interoperability and airlift capabilities between the United States and Greece.

Throughout the exercise, three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft from the 86th Airlift Wing joined Hellenic air force C-130H Hercules crews to execute various airlift missions and joint training events, including low-cost low-altitude and container delivery system airdrops, static line and military free fall jumps, low-level tactical flight maneuvers, aeromedical evacuation scenarios, Airfield Marking Pattern-4 landings, combat offloads and forklift familiarization.

“This year’s exercise pushed our crews to execute a diverse range of missions with a high level of coordination,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Eric Zielen-Ersing, 37th AS SCXII mission commander. “The experience gained through this level of interoperability is critical to our mission readiness.”

U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Jordan Von Seggern, a member of the 86th Airlift Wing’s Cross-Functional Airlift Support Personnel (CASPER) program, guides Tech. Sgt. Alexander Lauher, 37th Airlift Squadron instructor loadmaster, as he loads a pallet onto a C-130J Super Hercules as part of combat offload training during exercise Stolen Cerberus XII at Elefsina Air Base, Greece, May 1, 2025. — U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Jordan Von Seggern, a member of the 86th Airlift Wing’s Cross-Functional Airlift Support Personnel program, guides Tech. Sgt. Alexander Lauher, 37th Airlift Squadron instructor loadmaster, as he loads a pallet onto a C-130J Super Hercules as part of combat offload training during exercise Stolen Cerberus XII at Elefsina Air Base, Greece, May 1, 2025. The bilateral training included low-level defensive flying maneuvers, cargo air-drops, combat offloads for cargo pallets, and emergency medical evacuations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brenden Beezley)

Hellenic Air Force Capt. Sigala Aikaterini, center, 251st Air Force General Hospital registered nurse, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Renata Rodriguez, right, 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron AE technician, perform a medical emergency response training over Aegean Sea, Greece, during exercise Stolen Cerberus XII, May 5, 2025. — Hellenic air force Capt. Sigala Aikaterini, center, 251st Air Force General Hospital registered nurse, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Renata Rodriguez, right, 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron AE technician, perform a medical emergency response training over Aegean Sea, Greece, during exercise Stolen Cerberus XII, May 5, 2025. Through combined training efforts like Stolen Cerberus, NATO allies strengthen their ability to collaborate effectively, enhancing military capabilities and reinforcing the collective stance that ensures security in the Balkan region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brenden Beezley)

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Tirtha Tripathi, 86th Maintenance Squadron crew chief, marshals a C-130J Super Hercules during exercise Stolen Cerberus XII at Elefsina Air Base, Greece, May 1, 2025. Stolen Cerberus is an annual bilateral training between the U.S. Air Force and Hellenic air force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brenden Beezley)

Training scenarios were conducted across varied terrain, taking advantage of Greece’s diverse geography to replicate realistic mission environments. To ensure success, mission planners and aircrews worked closely with their Hellenic counterparts to build, brief and execute tactical flight routes under both daylight and low-light conditions.

“The C-130 is a day and night, all-weather tactical airlift platform,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Chris Gallimore, 37th AS SCXII mission planning cell chief. “Training in an environment like this gives us the repetition and realism we need to remain effective.”

Integration extended beyond flying units. Contracting, communications, supply and maintenance Airmen from Team Ramstein contributed to the exercise’s success, working in conjunction with the Hellenic forces to sustain operations and overcome logistical challenges.

“We worked closely with several units from the 86th Airlift Wing beyond just the 37th Airlift Squadron,” Zielen-Ersing said. “All of these units had a chance to see firsthand how we integrate to project airpower downrange, something we can't fully replicate at our home station.”

Among the many players was the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, who used the exercise as a training opportunity, conducting joint scenarios with Hellenic medical personnel aboard both U.S. and Hellenic C-130 aircraft.

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Steve Baker, 435th Contingency Response Group jumpmaster, looks out of a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules near the Megara Drop Zone Air Base, Greece, May 6, 2025, during exercise Stolen Cerberus XII. The bilateral training included low-level defensive flying maneuvers, cargo airdrops, combat offloads for cargo pallets, and emergency medical evacuations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brenden Beezley)

“My favorite part was collaborating with the Hellenic AE team,” said Staff Sgt. Charles Sanchez, 86th AES mission clinical coordinator. “We swapped patients mid-mission and continued training together, which was an excellent opportunity to compare techniques and learn from each other.”

With 12 iterations completed, Stolen Cerberus has evolved into more than just a training exercise, it’s a reflection of the deepening strategic partnership between the U.S. and Hellenic forces.

“Exercise Stolen Cerberus is an excellent training opportunity because it gives us the opportunity to fly with our NATO partners and to take lessons learned and apply them to both of our tactics, techniques and procedures,” said Maj. Hannah Riddle, 37th AS SCXII detachment commander. “Through this exercise we build camaraderie with the Hellenic air force and know that if we are called upon, we can operate seamlessly together from a strategically beneficial location with a partnership that has been wrought over 12 years.”