166th Operations Group conducts preflight mission briefing during Exercise Castaway 26-6

About this video

NEW CASTLE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Del. (Aug. 4, 2026) — B-roll footage shows Airmen assigned to the 166th Operations Group participating in a preflight mission briefing aboard a Delaware Air National Guard C-130H3 Hercules aircraft before takeoff during Exercise Castaway 26-6. The briefing includes members of the 166th Operations Support Squadron, 142d Airlift Squadron and 142d Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron as they gather to coordinate mission execution prior to flight.

Exercise Castaway brought together the 166th Airlift Wing, Delaware Air National Guard; the 436th Airlift Wing, Dover Air Force Base; and U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City. U.S. Air Force survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialists, C-5M Super Galaxy and C-130 Hercules aircrews, U.S. Coast Guard personnel and rescue forces practiced personnel recovery operations.

The exercise focused on survival, signaling, communication and coordinated search and rescue procedures that enable recovery forces to locate and recover isolated personnel.

The 166th Operations Group integrates tactical airlift, aeromedical evacuation and operational support capabilities to provide mission-ready Airmen for state, national and worldwide operations.

During Exercise Castaway 26-6, Airmen from multiple squadrons coordinated aboard the C-130H3 Hercules before supporting personnel recovery training.

This video is part of a multi-package B-roll series documenting the 166th Airlift Wing's participation in Exercise Castaway 26-6.

(U.S. Air National Guard video by Staff Sgt. Yonette Martin)