EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Exercise Sentry Aloha 18-1 held at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, ended Jan 24. 2018.

The exercise which takes place several times a year is hosted by the Hawaii Air National Guard (ANG) which is the Air Force’s largest ANG wing.

Sentry Aloha is held to provide the Air National Guard, U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense counterparts a multi-faceted, joint venue, with supporting infrastructure and personnel that incorporates current, realistic, integrated training to equip the warfighter with the skill sets necessary to fly, fight and win.

Units from across the country participated in the 14-day long exercise including, the 154th Fighter Wing (FW), 144th Fighter Wing, 507th Air Refueling Wing, 552nd Air Control Wing, 513th Air Control Group, 185th Air Refueling Wing, 149th Logistics Readiness Squadron and 18th Aggressor Squadron.

Eielson’s Aggressors played a unique role, flying as opposing forces to the other fighter units.

“The training opportunities in the exercise provided an opportunity that the Hawaii Air National Guard otherwise wouldn’t have because they don’t have a dedicated professional adversary which aids in improving the Pacific Air Forces’ readiness by improving unit’s capabilities to fight,” said Capt. Robert Glenn, an 18th AGRS pilot.

The 18th AGRS used their wealth of knowledge about enemy tactics to teach the other units how to fight more effectively against them, while also allowing their entire unit to conduct training at the same time.

“The Aggressors and their F-16s replicating adversary tactics provide training that you just can’t get anywhere else,” said Col. Victor Sikora, the California Air National Guard’s 144th FW operations group commander.

Throughout the exercise units flew more than 400 sorties and provided training opportunities for more than 950 Airmen.

With Sentry Aloha coming to a close, the 18th AGRS is slated to depart for Guam to participate in Cope North 2018 scheduled to kick off in February.