Two U.S. Airmen and a Hellenic air force member ramp surf on a C-130J Super Hercules over Athens, Greece, during exercise Stolen Cerberus XII May 2, 2025. Through combined training efforts like Stolen Cerberus, NATO allies strengthen their ability to collaborate effectively, enhancing military capabilities and reinforcing the collective stance that ensures security in the Balkan region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brenden Beezley)

Three U.S. Airmen with the 435th Contingency Response Group perform a static line jump from a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules at the Megara Drop Zone, Greece, May 3, 2025, during exercise Stolen Cerberus XII. Through combined training efforts like Stolen Cerberus, NATO allies strengthen their ability to collaborate effectively, enhancing military capabilities and reinforcing the collective stance that ensures security in the Balkan region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brenden Beezley)

Exercise Stolen Cerberus XII, a bilateral training event involving members of the U.S. Air Force and Hellenic armed forces, concluded at Elefsina Air Base, May 7.

The two-week exercise, hosted annually by the 37th Airlift Squadron, aims to enhance interoperability and airlift capabilities between the United States and Greece.

Throughout the exercise, three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft from the 86th Airlift Wing joined Hellenic air force C-130H Hercules crews to execute various airlift missions and joint training events, including low-cost low-altitude and container delivery system airdrops, static line and military free fall jumps, low-level tactical flight maneuvers, aeromedical evacuation scenarios, Airfield Marking Pattern-4 landings, combat offloads and forklift familiarization.

"This year's exercise pushed our crews to execute a diverse range of missions with a high level of coordination," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Eric Zielen-Ersing, 37th AS SCXII mission commander. "The experience gained through this level of interoperability is critical to our mission readiness."

U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Jordan Von Seggern, a member of the 86th Airlift Wing's Cross-Functional Airlift Support Personnel program, guides Tech. Sgt. Alexander Lauher, 37th Airlift Squadron instructor loadmaster, as he loads a pallet onto a C-130J Super Hercules as part of combat offload training during exercise Stolen Cerberus XII at Elefsina Air Base, Greece, May 1, 2025. The bilateral training included low-level defensive flying maneuvers, cargo air-drops, combat offloads for cargo pallets, and emergency medical evacuations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brenden Beezley)

Hellenic air force Capt. Sigala Aikaterini, center, 251st Air Force General Hospital registered nurse, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Renata Rodriguez, right, 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron AE technician, perform a medical emergency response training over Aegean Sea, Greece, during exercise Stolen Cerberus XII, May 5, 2025. Through combined training efforts like Stolen Cerberus, NATO allies strengthen their ability to collaborate effectively, enhancing military capabilities and reinforcing the collective stance that ensures security in the Balkan region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brenden Beezley)

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Tirtha Tripathi, 86th Maintenance Squadron crew chief, marshals a C-130J Super Hercules during exercise Stolen Cerberus XII at Elefsina Air Base, Greece, May 1, 2025. Stolen Cerberus is an annual bilateral training between the U.S. Air Force and Hellenic air force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brenden Beezley)

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Steve Baker, 435th Contingency Response Group jumpmaster, looks out of a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules near the Megara Drop Zone Air Base, Greece, May 6, 2025, during exercise Stolen Cerberus XII. The bilateral training included low-level defensive flying maneuvers, cargo airdrops, combat offloads for cargo pallets, and emergency medical evacuations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brenden Beezley)

Source: U.S.Air Force