Patriot Hook 2019

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Randall A. Ogden, Fourth Air Force commanding officer, center, learns about the aeromedical evacuation mission from airmen assigned to the 452nd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, March Air Reserve Base, aboard a C-17 Globemaster III during exercise Patriot Hook, April 14, 2019, Naval Air Station North Island, California. Soldiers assigned to the 314th Military Intelligence Battalion, San Diego, California, act as simulated patients. Patriot Hook is an annual exercise simulating a joint military and civilian force response to a natural disaster in a forward deployed location. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Heather Cozad Staley)

Patriot Hook 2019

U.S. Air Force airmen don mission-oriented protective posture gear during a visit by Maj. Gen. Randall W. Ogden, commanding officer of Fourth Air Force to exercise Patriot Hook, April 14, 2019, Naval Air Station North Island, California. Patriot Hook is an annual exercise simulating a joint military and civilian force response to a natural disaster in a forward deployed location. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Heather Cozad Staley)

Patriot Hook 2019

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Randall W. Ogden, commander, Headquarters Fourth Air Force, second from left, meets with representatives from the FBI Rapid Deployment Team, Los Angeles, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency Emergency Support Function 13, California, during exercise Patriot Hook, April 14, 2019, at Naval Air Station North Island, California. Patriot Hook is an annual exercise simulating a joint military and civilian force response to a natural disaster in a forward deployed location. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Heather Cozad Staley)

Maj. Gen. Ogden visits Patriot Hook

Published April 19, 2019
By Tech Sgt. Heather Cozad Staley
452 AMW Public Affairs

March Air Reserve Base, Calif. --

U.S. Air Force Reserve 4th Air Force commander, Maj. General Randall A. Ogden visited Naval Air Station North Island to meet with the participants of the Patriot Hook exercise, April 14.

Patriot Hook is an annual joint-service exercise coordinated by Air Force Reserve Command, designed to integrate the military and first responders of federal, state and local agencies by providing training to mobilize quickly and deploy in military aircraft in the event of a regional emergency or natural disaster.

While visiting the operations area, Maj. General Ogden met with AFRC members from the 452^nd Air Mobility Wing, March Air Reserve Base, California, 433^rd Contingency Response Flight, Joint Base San Antonio, and the 821^st Contingency Response Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, California.

On North Island and at each of the four Southern California locations, airmen arrived at a bare-base section of flight line. Within hours, crews assembled the facilities to provide command and control of aircrew management, aircraft flight following, maintenance of aircraft, and the loading and unloading of aircraft. Scenarios during the exercise included airbase defense, aeromedical evacuation, and chemical warfare response.

Participation of affiliate agencies and joint service members provided the opportunity to learn each team’s capabilities and practice communication and coordination to build the relationships necessary for effective emergency relief.

“Seeing the whole government approach impressed me,” said Ogden. “When we respond to a natural disaster or whatever the emergency is, we bring everyone together. The more we exercise together the better we will be ready at a moment’s notice.”

During his visit, Maj. General Ogden met with members from U.S. Army Reserve 314^th Military Intelligence Battalion, U.S. Naval Special Warfare Group 1, Naval Air Station North Island, both out of San Diego, FBI Rapid Deployment Team, Los Angeles, and Federal Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Support Function 13, Public Safety and Security.