2013 Sentry Eagle exercise and open house cancelled Published April 26, 2013 By 010413 KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. -- The 2013 Sentry Eagle exercise and open house, scheduled for Aug. 10, has been cancelled. Driven by operating budget uncertainties and sequestration, U.S. Air Force leadership at all levels are proactively implementing actions to minimize impact to military readiness while protecting wartime operations. "The Department of Defense and the Air National Guard have been faced with numerous fiscal challenges this year, which has forced us to make difficult choices here at the Kingsley Field," said Col. Jeremy Baenen, 173rd Fighter Wing commander. "One of those difficult choices was to cancel this year's Sentry Eagle exercise and open house. Sentry Eagle has always been a great event here at Kingsley Field, and we enjoy welcoming the public on to our base. However, because of the current fiscal restraints and higher headquarter's guidance, we are unable to host this event in 2013." The decision to cancel Sentry Eagle was not easy considering the show's popularity. Sentry Eagle has been held almost every other year since 1983. "We understand how important Sentry Eagle is to our local community and it's equally important for us," Baenen said. "This open house provides the public with an up-close look their home-town military, our aircraft, and the amazing job our Airmen do each and every day. For that reason, we are already looking ahead to when we hope to once again host our Sentry Eagle." No dates for future Sentry Eagles have been set at this time.