PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AIR RESERVE STATION, Pennsylvania -- The 911th Airlift Wing conducted Exercise Steel Kekoa May 4 through May 5, 2024, and June 1 through June 2, 2024. The exercise ran for the duration of the May and June unit training assemblies and tested Steel Airmen on their capabilities to operate in an expeditionary environment.
Exercises like Steel Kekoa give units the chance to practice performing in expeditionary operations and inspect members on their military training and knowledge. The name Steel Kekoa, derived from the Hawaiian word for warrior, was chosen to honor the legacy of the Pittsburgh-based unit as well as partnerships in the Pacific Ocean.
“We went into this exercise with two questions in mind: are we ready for war, and how do we know?” stated Master Sgt. Randy Levander, wing readiness exercise coordinator assigned to the 911th AW. “This exercise is just one of those checkboxes that show we know.”
When it comes to the benefits an exercise can have for a unit, Lt. Col. Andrew Williams, commander trainee assigned to the 911th Mission Support Group, says two words come to mind: realism and repetition.
“The drone strikes, ground attacks, protestors and gate runners are all very realistic scenarios that we, as an expeditionary wing, need to be prepared for,” Williams explained. “The repetition that we’re all getting by reacting to alarm conditions, MOPP [mission oriented protective posture] level changes and FPCON [force protection condition] changes force you to think about how we are going to counter these challenges and still execute the mission.”
MOPP refers to the level of protective gear worn in a potentially toxic environment, while FPCON is a system for increasing security measures in response to the level of threat to military facilities. Exercises using these measures help Steel Airmen learn how to perform their duties in stressful or other-than-normal situations.
Williams served as the officer in charge of preparing the base for simulated deployment operations for Steel Kokoa. Known locally as a “warlord,” he was tasked to plan and build the blueprint for the exercise. This was not a task for one person to take on alone, but Williams knew that teamwork was the key to success.
“The biggest challenge was trying to juggle multiple competing priorities,” Willaims explained. “So, I built a committee of action officers from every squadron, and I leaned on their experience, expertise and judgment to build our plan for Steel Kekoa.”
It took more than a year of preparation to build the most realistic scenario for Steel Airmen to face and prove that they can operate in an expeditionary environment. Williams expressed his appreciation for his planning committee for assisting him with executing an effective exercise and the experiences he gained