The 14th edition of Sentry Eagle, the Air National Guard’s largest air-to-air exercise, could easily have been called "Sentry Viper" instead. Traditionally, this exercise, held at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, Oregon, is centered on the Guard’s F-15 Eagle units. However, all but two of the F-15 squadrons had to cancel their attendance at this year’s exercise, held from 21 to 23 July, due to other commitments.

Only the resident 173rd Fighter Wing and Montana’s 120th FW brought their Eagles to the fight. F-16s from six ANG units (from Arizona, California, Colorado, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas) participated in place of the missing F-15s, as did a pair of F/A-18F Super Hornets from VX-9 "Vampires," based at NAS China Lake, California.

Sentry Eagle’s main purpose is to provide training for the air-defense mission, a major role for many ANG fighter units. Since 9/11, securing America’s skies around the clock has been a top priority in the war on terror. Besides intercepting wayward airliners and general aviation aircraft, ANG fighters regularly pursue planes suspected of being used by drug smugglers.

For the host unit, the 173rd FW, Sentry Eagle is more than just an exercise. During a brief media event, LT. Col. Martin Balakas explained, "Sentry Eagle and its Open House are an important tool for us to thank our local and state citizens who support men and women serving in the Air National Guard."

During the one-day Open House on the last day of Sentry Eagle, some 15,000 people passed through Kingsley Field’s gates to smell and experience some of the jet action. The Open House is not an airshow; instead, spectators get to watch the launch and recovery of the day’s exercise missions. It’s a unique opportunity for spectators to see their "home team" and its fellow ANG units in action, up close. The only additional feature at the 2011 Open House was a performance by the F-15E Strike Eagle demo team, held between the morning and afternoon missions. The team, Major Michael "Cash" Maeder and Capt. Steven V. "Buda" Bofferding, offered a loud and thrilling performance appreciated by all attending.

Although the F-15C Eagle is still an agile and capable fighter, its future has changed since the last Sentry Eagle exercise in 2007. (Sentry Eagle has historically been a held biannually, but the 2009 edition was cancelled due to runway resurfacing at Kingsley Field.) The 173rd has now become the sole F-15C "schoolhouse" for the Air Force and ANG. Even before this change, the 173rd FW trained pilots from both organizations; in fact, during the past decade the majority of the students came from the regular Air Force. This will not continue, though, as the number of F-15 pilots required by the USAF declines. Air Combat Command stood down its last operational F-15C squadrons during 2010, leaving only the Pacific Air Forces (with two squadrons) at Kadena, Okinawa) and United States Air Forces Europe (with one squadron at Lakenheath, England) flying fighter Eagles alongside the Guard.

Two ANG F-15 squadrons have also given up their aircraft since 2007. The Air Guard, though, plans to operate this fighter at least for another 10 to 15 years, ensuring that the 173rd will remain in business for quite some time.