Montana ANG F-15s begin alert duty in Hawaii

By Maj. Rick Anderson
Montana National Guard

An F-15 assigned to the 120th Fighter Wing of the Montana Air National Guard lifts off in flight over the runway of the Great Falls International Airport in 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Eric Peterson)
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GREAT FALLS, Mont., (8/6/10) -- Within months of being declared initial operating capable, F-15s, pilots and other personnel from the 120th Fighter Wing have been assigned to conduct an air sovereignty alert mission at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.

The 154th Air Wing, located at Hickam AFB on the island of Oahu, will transfer alert status to the 120th Fighter Wing Detachment beginning today. The 154th is currently transitioning from the F-15 Eagle fighter jet to the F-22 Raptor fighter jet.

More than 30 Airmen from the Montana Air National Guard will deploy to Hickam. Six of Montana's F-15s will be sent to stand ready on 24-hour alert against threats to the Hawaiian Islands and a large area of the Pacific Ocean.

In a recent planning meeting, Col. Pete Hronek, the 120th Fighter Wing commander, said he had the utmost confidence in the men and women of the Montana Air Guard to perform this enormous responsibility for our nation's defense.

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