120th FS deploys to Hungary in conjunction with Operation Atlantic Resolve

PAPA AIR BASE, Hungary -- Okay, that is not how the quote actually ends but on a day of sunshine and blue skies at Pápa Air Base, Hungary, the sound of freedom echoes through the air as F-16s  conduct training exercises and suddenly one can not envision that quote ending any other way than with F-16s replacing "a little flower" in Andersen's' famous quote.

From July 15th to August 5th 2016, eight F-16s and approximately 200 Airmen from the 140th Wing and the 120th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Colorado Air National Guard will be deployed to Hungary in conjunction with Operation Atlantic Resolve.

"OAR is a demonstration of continued U.S. commitment to collective security through a series of actions designed to reassure NATO allies and partners of America's dedication to enduring peace and stability in the region in light of the Russian intervention in Ukraine." (www.defense.gov).

Col. Floyd Dunstan, 140th Wing Commander, stated "the overall mission of the 140th WG and the 120th FS being deployed to Hungary is for our flying training deployment, which is a training we do on an annual basis. We had an opportunity to come over here and support the European reassurance
initiative and do some flying with the Hungarian air force and also be able to support Joint Terminal Attack Controller training for the Hungarian and Slovenian armed forces."

The COANG routinely rotates forces in and out of Europe, which enhances the strength of NATO alliances without the need to permanently base additional aircraft and Airmen in Europe.

Dunstan stated, "The role of the COANG in support of European stability operations is greatly important and for us to be able to deploy with our NATO partners, Hungary and Slovenia, is very significant because it allows us to align our capabilities and further integrates the multiple armed
forces."

The 120th FS will be doing air to air missions with the Hungarian Gripen fighter aircraft, close air support and forced air control support with the Hungarian JTACs and Slovenian JTACs. They will also be participating in cross-border flights with deployed U.S. Air Force A-10s and KC-135s from
other U.S. Air National Guard bases and allied nation air forces in Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovenia.

"These are bread and butter missions that we do everyday, no matter what theater we are in, with the F-16" said Dunstan.

During this deployment, the 120th FS will also conduct in-flight training missions with the Slovenian air force as part of the State Partnership Program, through which Colorado and Slovenia support one another's needs and improve the strategic objectives of both countries.

A recent initiative between the two countries is Pocek Range in Slovenia. Members of the 140th WG have been instrumental in the development, construction and training of the new range and just recently, were successful in bringing the range up to NATO standards. Reaching NATO standards is significant because not only is Slovenia an SPP country, but many NATO countries, including Hungary utilize the range. U.S. F-16s from Aviano Air Base, Italy, also rely on Pocek Range for training missions.

The mission of the NATO organization is to safeguard the freedom and security of its members through political and military means. Our NATO alliance, our ongoing commitment to Operation Atlantic Resolve and our continued rotation of forces through Europe, serves as a reminder that "Just
living is not enough...one must have sunshine, freedom and F-16s."

Idaho Air National Guard deploying to fight ISIS in Middle East

190th Fighter Squadron A-10 A-10A Thunderbolt II 78-0584 (USAF Photo)

Story by KBOI News Staff (thanks to Ron P for heads up)

BOISE, Idaho (KBOI) - More than 500 members of the Idaho Air National Guard will be sent to the Middle East this spring and summer to help with the fight against ISIS.
The Guard says the deployment of their A-10s in the 124th Fighter Wing based at Gowen Field is part of Operation Inherent Resolve.

"This mission, part of its federal responsibility, is in response to the Department of Defense looking at our capabilities and our talents and we fit the bill for this deployment," said Major Chris Borders, the public affairs officer for the Idaho National Guard.

Officials say they will be sending multiple aircraft, pilots, maintenance personnel, security forces, medical personnel, and various other support staff.

"This deployment highlights the dedication of the 124th Fighter Wing and its members, as well as the community of families, state and local leaders, neighbors and employers who have demonstrated once again their steadfast and unwavering support of Idaho's service members," Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter said in a press release. "The impact on the community is recognized and their sacrifice is deeply appreciated."
The Guard says deployments typically last 180 days and that personnel will travel in smaller groups over the next few months.

"This is what we do, this is the culminating event for our guard members," Borders said. "This probably might very well be a highlight in an airman's career."

The A-10 Thunderbolt II, nicknamed the Warthog, has been in the center of controversy recently, as the Pentagon has been trying to retire the aircraft in favor of the new F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, which has been plagued by delays during its development.

Last month, Pentagon officials delayed the retirement plan, saying the A-10 was critical in the fight against the Islamic State.

New York's 109th Airlift Wing launches annual Antarctic mission

An LC-130 assigned to the 109th Airlift Wing leaves Stratton Air National Guard Base for Antarctica on Oct. 18, 2013. (Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Willie Gizara/Released)

By Tech Sgt. Catharine Schmidt, 109th Airlift Wing, New York Air National Guard

SCOTIA, N.Y.  - The 109th Airlift Wing kicked off its 26th season in support of Operation Deep Freeze on Oct. 18 as Airmen and LC-130 Hercules aircraft began their journey to the South Pole.

Despite the obstacles each season brings with the extreme weather conditions in Antarctica, crews are always prepared to complete the missions they have set out to do in support of the National Science Foundation.

A total of six ski-equipped LC-130 aircraft will be deployed this year from October to February, the typical on-continent Antarctic flying season.

These aircraft will support the National Science Foundation's research, moving supplies and people to field camps across the continent and to the South Pole station.
About 120 Air National Guard members will be deployed at any one time to Operation Deep Freeze, with a total of about 700 personnel rotations occurring over the entire season.

"We fully expect to meet all the mission requirements NSF sets forth for us," said Maj. Steven Slosek, a navigator who will be part of this year's ODF season, his fifth season on the ice. "It's an extremely remote and austere environment, but the best part about being a navigator in Antarctica is the sense of adventure."

Col. Shawn Clouthier, 109th AW commander, said he is confident the Wing will once again provide outstanding support, no matter what the obstacles.

"Due to fiscal constraints we have been tasked with fewer missions for this Antarctic season,” he said. "However, the mission set is still one of the most demanding in the Air National Guard and the Air Force. Through all of the budget restrictions one constant remains, the dedicated and professional men and women of the 109th will serve the National Science Foundation in the outstanding manner to which they have become accustomed."

After the resolution of the government shutdown Thursday, the 109th quickly geared back up to send down just as many aircraft as in previous seasons, and nearly the same number of personnel. As the season continues, additional guidance from the NSF will determine if the lowered mission tasking will continue.

The unit boasts the U.S. military's only ski-equipped aircraft, which has been supporting the NFS's South Pole research since 1988. Since 1999, the unit has been the sole provider of this type of airlift to the NSF and U.S. Antarctic research efforts.

In 1999 a crew from the 109th Airlift Wing made a daring rescue of Dr. Jerri Nielsen, a staff member at the Amundsen-Scott Station at the South Pole who was suffering from breast cancer. An LC-130 from the wing landed in bitter cold, far earlier in the season than they normally fly, to retrieve the doctor.

In 2008, another 109th LC-130 rescued an Australian researcher who had broken his leg in an accident and flew him to Hobart, Australia, from Antarctica.

109th Air Wing participates in National Disaster Medical System exercise

By 2nd Lt. Colette Martin, 109th Air Wing

SCOTIA, N.Y. (8/9/13) - Members from several local agencies across the Capital District participated in a coordinated National Disaster Medical System Exercise on Aug. 8 and 9 at Stratton Air National Guard Base, Schenectady, N.Y.

The agencies consisted of members from the 109th Airlift Wing, 139th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, the Albany Stratton Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Disaster Medical System, the Civil Air Patrol and the Alplaus Volunteer Fire Department.

During this exercise, patients were stabilized for transport, loaded onto an LC-130 Hercules and evacuated by members of the 139 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron who were sharpening their skills for an actual medical evacuation.

The patients, participating cadets from the Civil Air Patrol, were moved from the Aplaus Volunteer Fire Department to Stratton ANGB and loaded onto a C-130 for transport.

This exercise highlighted the vital function of the 109AW and 139AES in the NDMS and homeland defense mission as well as the cooperation and coordination between the 109AW and New York state civilian medical and emergency management assets.

This exercise demonstrated interagency partnership between the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Veteran’s Affairs and the instrumental role of aeromedical evacuation in the national emergency response and national defense frameworks.

NDMS is a federally-coordinated system that augments the nation's medical response capability by combining federal and non-federal medical resources into a unified response to meet natural and man-made disaster needs, as well as support patient treatment requirements from military contingencies.

Stratton ANGB is a federal coordinating center whose mission is to recruit hospitals and maintain local non-federal hospital participation in the NDMS, coordinate exercise development and emergency plans with participating hospitals and other local authorities in order to develop patient reception, transportation, and communication plans, and during system activation, coordinate the reception and distribution of patients being evacuated to the area.

As members of the National Guard, the Airmen of the 109AW have responded to a number of state emergencies including Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 and Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

This exercise enabled the agencies to practice for future natural disasters.

The 109AW is the only unit in the United States military that flies aircraft equipped to land on snow. The wing provides support to National Science Foundation operations in Antarctica and Greenland and has also flown conventional C-130s in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

California Guard Deploys Predator to Support Firefighters

California National Guard Airman 1st Class Allan Polzin, 163d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, conducts pre-flight checks on the MQ-1 Predator while in communication with the pilots prior to a training flight at Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville, Calif. (Air National Guard photo/Master Sgt. Julie Avey)

By Donna Miles,  American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON - With wildfires continuing to rage around Yosemite National Park, the California National Guard has deployed a remotely piloted aircraft that improves the incident commander's ability to monitor conditions on the ground.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel approved the use of an MQ-1 Predator to support firefighters battling the Rim Fire that has expanded to more than 160,000 acres, Air Force Lt. Col. Thomas Keegan, California National Guard public affairs officer, reported.

The California Air National Guard's 163rd Reconnaissance Wing deployed the Predator yesterday, and it is being flown in direct support of the incident commander under the command and control of Army Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin, California's adjutant general, Keegan said.

The aircraft, flying from the Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville for up to 22 hours without landing, will capture and deliver real-time 24/7 information on remote portions of the wildfire.

"The impact of this will be significant," Keegan said. "It will identify where fire activity is located and how it is moving, as well as where it has been controlled."

The aircraft also will identify safe routes of retreat for firefighters on the scene and verify new fire created by lightning strikes or floating embers. This, Keegan explained, will help the incident commander stay on top of the changing situation on the ground and make the best use of available resources.

Keegan emphasized that the images will be used only to support firefighting operations.

The aircraft's pilots, located at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, Calif., will remain in constant contact with Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers from takeoff to landing and fly over unpopulated areas whenever possible, he said. The flight path generally will be limited to 30 nautical miles of the Rim Fire area, and whenever it flies outside the restricted airspace for the fire, a manned plane will escort it.

Meanwhile, nearly a dozen aircraft and crews from the California Air and Army National Guard are battling wildfires across Northern California.

California Army Guard helicopter crews and California Air Guard air tanker crews are working in coordination with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and U.S. Forest Service firefighting crews to battle the American, Swedes and Rim fires, Keegan reported.

In addition to two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters supporting operations at the Rim Fire, three Black Hawks are battling the American Fire and two Black Hawks and one CH-47 Chinook helicopter are flying in support of the Swedes Fire, Keegan said.

Another Black Hawk -- with a specialized crew and a hoist for extracting injured personnel from rugged terrain -- is staged in Redding, Calif., on call for medical evacuation support throughout Northern California.

At the Rim Fire alone, the helicopter crews have completed 905 drops, releasing more than 450,000 gallons of water and fire retardant since the crews were activated Aug. 17, Keegan said.

In addition, Air National Guard crews are using two C-130J Hercules air tankers to fight the Rim Fire. Both aircraft are equipped with the Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems II and are capable of discharging 3,000 gallons of water or retardant in less than five seconds. Since their activation Aug. 13, the air tankers have completed 122 drops, releasing more than 333,000 gallons of retardant, Keegan said.

"In times of crisis, it is imperative we pull together as a united front against the threat of wildfires in our state," Baldwin said, noting that the California Guard regularly trains for the mission.
"Working together in a climate of cooperation with [state officials], our soldiers and airmen are committed to preserving the lives and property of our neighbors who are threatened by this emergency," he said.

The Rim Fire is not the first in which California has used remotely piloted aircraft technology to support firefighting. In 2007, NASA piloted a similar unmanned aircraft in response to a request from the California Office of Emergency Services and the National Interagency Fire Center.

Those flights were conducted during daytime hours, complemented by nighttime imaging flights from NIFC's Cessna Citation and an Air Force Global Hawk, both equipped with an earlier-generation infrared camera. Pilots in a ground control station at NASA Dryden controlled the flights via satellite links.

NASA conducted additional remotely piloted aircraft missions in 2008, to monitor wildfires in Southern California, and in 2009, to assess fire damage in Angeles National Forest.
The current mission, officials said, is the longest sustained mission by an unmanned aircraft in California in support of firefighters.

Last aircraft departs as N.D. Air National Guard ends flying mission, transitions to intelligence mission

Tech. Sgt. Scott Hovda, a crew chief with the 119th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, gives hand signals as he assists pilots Col. Kent Olson, 119th Wing commander and Col. Brad Derrig, 119th Wing vice-commander, as they prepare to take off from the North Dakota Air National Guard Base in Fargo, N.D., in the unit's last C-21A Learjet, Aug. 27, 2013. The departure of the unit's last C-21A brings to a close 66 years of flying history in the North Dakota Air Guard as the 119th Wing transitions to a non-flying intelligence mission. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp)

FARGO, N.D. - The North Dakota Air National Guard's last C-21A Learjet aircraft has left the base. The last of eight C-21s flown by the 119th Wing-better known as the Happy Hooligans- took off just after 11:30 a.m. Tuesday ending 66 years of flying history.

The North Dakota Air National Guard was organized in January 1947 and its first aircraft - the P-51 Mustang - flew into Fargo the following month. In the decades that followed, the Airmen flew and maintained aircraft and racked up numerous national and international awards.

"We stand here today at the end of an era and the beginning of a new life for the (North Dakota) Air National Guard," said retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Alexander Macdonald, former adjutant general of the North Dakota National Guard, during the event, stressing the high standards that unit members always reached for.

"Whenever the goal was set, and then reached, the men and women of the organization set loftier ones, and time and time again these goals were achieved," he said, adding that the unit received numerous air defense readiness and maintenance awards over the years.

He went on to share recollections and list some of the many high points from throughout the past 66 years, such as the first air-to-air rocket firing over Lake Superior.

"We had the first deployed alert to Seymour Johnson (Air Force Base in North Carolina)," Macdonald. "We were the first to go on nuclear alert. The first to reach 100 percent strength. The first deployment overseas for an active NATO air-defense mission. The first air defense aerial refueling and the list of awards and firsts goes on and on."

When the fighter mission ended in 2007, the Hooligans transitioned to the C-21A, which was intended to serve as a "bridge" mission to keep pilots and maintainers of the unit active and relevant until the anticipated new flying mission of the C-27J Spartan arrived. The final decision to divest that mission from the Air Force was made earlier this year, prompting the North Dakota Air National Guard to begin a transition to an intelligence mission, a mission that does not include aircraft.
Many details of that new intelligence group mission are still uncertain. In the meantime, North Dakota is now the only state in the nation without an Air National Guard manned flying mission.
"USA Today once called the Happy Hooligans the 'godfathers of air superiority,' noting that they are the 'best air-to-air combat fighters in the world,'" said Army Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, adjutant general of the North Dakota National Guard. "I'd rather say that, quite simply, they're the best in the world. It's not about the mission. It's not about the aircraft. It's about the people behind the mission. That's what has made the Hooligans the very best for all of these years, and what will continue to make them the best for years to come."

Air Force Col. Kent Olson, commander of the 119th Wing, and Air Force Col. Brad Derrig, vice commander of the wing, along with Air Force Lt. Col. Jerrad Krapp, commander of the 177th Airlift Squadron, flew the wing's last C-21A, to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio. It will become the first C-21A added to the collection at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force there.
The Happy Hooligans experienced success with C-21 during the past six-and-a-half years. Olson spoke of that achievement and the hard work that went into creating such a success.

When the C-21s arrived in Fargo in January 2007, "they were about two dozen years old and had just been saved from a final trip to the boneyard," Olson told the audience. "Let's think about that for the moment: Eight aircraft that the Air Force was going to send to the boneyard, they sent to us. So we received them, and what did we do? We did what our maintenance group does the best: They got the jets in such good condition that they are still, by the way, the best maintained C-21s in the Air Force inventory."

Prior to receiving the C-21s, which were manufactured in 1983, only contracted civilian maintenance personnel had worked on the planes. The North Dakota Guardsmen worked to develop a maintenance program that incorporated Federal Aviation Administration guidance with Air Force procedures and training. That program was put to the test during an overseas mission that brought the Happy Hooligan's C-21s to Iraq, Afghanistan, Djibouti and other areas. Despite the intense heat and dust, the C-21's never missed a take-off.

Later that year, the 177th Airlift Squadron earned the title of Joint Operational Support Airlift Center Squadron of the Year.

With the departure of the last aircraft, the North Dakota Air National Guard has achieved more than 175,340 Class A mishap-free flying hours. More than 17,000 of those hours were in a C-21.

Air National Guard civil engineers team up to move radar equipment

by Air Force Maj. Gary Arasin,  National Guard Bureau

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Air National Guard civil engineers team up to move radar equipment
By Air Force Maj. Gary Arasin

National Guard Bureau

ARLINGTON, Va. - Air National Guard civil engineers are teaming with their communication and network engineer counterparts to move radar equipment from Antigua Air Station, Antigua to H.E. Holt Naval Communications Station in Australia.

As part of a joint effort between the United States and Australia to enhance and expand situational awareness in space, the team will install the C-band radar that will be a dedicated sensor in the Space Surveillance Network. The radar provides highly accurate tracking of objects in space to improve overall space flight safety and situational awareness.

Following a 2011 request from the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, the joint team developed a proposal and cost estimate to renovate an existing building at the future radar site, construct a new antenna support structure, and conduct setup at the new location.

The project offered the team a chance to show its skills and save the government about $20 million, said Chief Master Sgt. Stephen Thorenz, the relocation Engineering Installation lead project manager.

"To reinvent the engineering and installation processes, as well as civil engineering, into a solid methodical work force, is a challenging and rewarding effort," said Thorenz, a member of the New York Air Guard. "Our composite team has been driven by the need of the customer and our desire to display our vast capabilities within our ANG workforce."

The engineering team sees this as a potential template for future projects, said Tennessee Air Guard's Lt. Col. Craig Bradford, Air Guard Civil Engineer project manager.

"In these days of shrinking budgets, a project like this demonstrates to the DoD how valuable an asset they have in the civil engineering community," he said.

EI squadrons from New York, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma are providing experts to this project, while a variety of states will be providing specialties such as electrical, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, construction, transportation and medical support.

The first CE team will deploy to Australia in August to begin site preparation, and the first EI team will deploy to Antigua in January 2014 to being disassembling and packing the radar for shipment to its new location.

California National Guard air resources battle wildfires

MAFFS 6, a C130J from the 146th Airlift Wing in Port Hueneme, Calif., drops a line of retardant over the trees in the mountains above Palm Springs July 19, 2013. The 146th Airlift Wing was activated July 18 to support CAL Fire and CAL OES on the Mountain fire and other potential wildfire activity throughout the state. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Nicholas Carzis/Released)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Nearly a dozen aircraft and crews from the California Air and Army National Guard are battling wildfires across Northern California.

Currently, nine California Army National Guard helicopters and two California Air National Guard airtankers are working in coordination with CAL FIRE and U.S. Forest Service firefighting crews to battle the American, Swedes and Rim fires. In total the aircraft have dropped more than 250,000 gallons of water or retardant since the first crews were activated on Aug. 13.

As of Tuesday, Guard units were also involved in fighting fires in Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Utah.
"We train for this fight every year," said Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin, adjutant general of the California National Guard (CNG). "Our ongoing coordination with CAL FIRE and CAL OES ensures that the right people, with the right training, are in the right place when the lives and property of our fellow Californians are on the line."

Three UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters are battling the American Fire, two Black Hawks are dropping on the Rim Fire, and a team of two Black Hawks and one CH-47 Chinook helicopter are flying in support of the Swedes Fire. Meanwhile, one Black Hawk is staged in Redding on call for medevac support throughout Northern California.

Each Black Hawk is equipped with a 660-gallon water bucket, while the Chinook's bucket has a 2,000-gallon capacity. The medevac helicopter is equipped with a specialized crew and a hoist for extracting injured personnel from rugged terrain. The helicopters have completed more than 229 drops, releasing about 111,500 gallons of water since their activation on Aug. 17.

The two C-130J airtankers are fighting the Rim fire. Both aircraft are equipped with the Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems II (MAFFS) and are capable of discharging 3,000 gallons of water or retardant along the leading edge of a fire in less than five seconds, saturating an area one-quarter of a mile long by 100 feet wide.

Since their activation Aug. 13, the airtankers have completed more than 53 drops, releasing about 142,000 gallons of retardant.

As a member of the state's mutual aid system, CNG aircraft and specially trained personnel are routinely used and deployed by the Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES) to respond to a wide range of emergencies including wildfires, search and rescue missions and other disasters throughout the state." This multi-agency coordination and resource sharing effort provides an efficient and effective way to combat the state's most difficult wildfires.

Fighting Falcons over Alaskan skies

A formation of F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 100th Fighter Squadron, Dannelly Field, Ala., waits to refuel over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex during RED FLAG-Alaska 13-3 Aug. 19, 2013, Eielson Air Force Base Alaska. The JPARC airspace covers more than 67,000 square miles and is the largest military air-ground training complex in North America. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Miguel Lara III/Released)

A-10s thunder over Alaska

A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft, 122nd Fighter Wing, 163rd Fighter Squadron, Indiana Air National Guard, Ft. Wayne, Ind. taxi and take-off as part of RED FLAG-Alaska 13-3, Aug. 12, 2013, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kirsten Wicker/Released)

131st BW makes history as first ANG bomb wing certified for nuclear operations

During early morning operations, 131st Bomb Wing Missouri Air National Guard mantainers service a B-2 Stealth at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Robert Trubia/RELEASED)

by Capt. Rachel Savage,  131st Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN Air Force Base, Mo -- The Air National Guard celebrated a historic milestone this week as the 131st Bomb Wing, the nation's only Guard unit to fly and maintain the B-2 Spirit, was certified to conduct the nuclear mission upon completion of their Initial Nuclear Surety Inspection.

With this certification, the 131st BW reached full operational capability with the B-2, bringing to conclusion a six-year journey that began with the unit's transition from the F-15 Eagle mission in 2007, said Maj. Gen. Steve Danner, Adjutant General of Missouri.

"The Airmen of the 131st Bomb Wing have proven they are up to the task in carrying out this critical national security mission," Danner said. "This confirmation is the result of years of hard work and the commencement of a new chapter in Air National Guard history. The 131st Bomb Wing is officially open for business - Col. Michael Francis and his team should be proud."

This momentous event marks the first time in the history of the Guard that a bomb wing has been certified in the delivery of nuclear weapons.

"The 131st Citizen-Airmen have proven they can exceed every stringent challenge posed in the nuclear realm," said Francis, the 131st Bomb Wing commander. "Their countless hours have deservingly evolved in to this success and I couldn't be more proud."

The four-day inspection consisted of assessments in key areas, and graded the wing's ability to be caretakers of an unrivaled combat power.

"The result of the inspection validates the wing's ability to carry out the nuclear mission, which requires adherence to the strictest standards" said Henry Jenkins, Air Force Global Strike Command Inspector General Team chief.

As part of the Air Force's Total Force Integration initiative to combine active duty with Guard Airmen, the two wings were integrated in 2007 when the 131st received its new operational mission. The unit became a classic associate with the active duty's 509th Bomb Wing, enabling the 131st to become the first-ever Guard unit to fly the B-2.

The integration efforts began seven years ago on Feb. 27, 2006, when the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the Air Force approved Total Force Initiative Phase II, which directed the creation of a Classic Association with the 509th and the 131st.

In 2008, the wing had fewer than 60 members stationed at Whiteman when they conducted the first all guard B-2 sortie, which included both the launch and operation of the aircraft. Today, nearly all 800 members are based at Whiteman, with completely integrated maintenance crews and almost three times the number of qualified pilots.

"The Airmen of the 509th Bomb Wing and the 131st Bomb Wing are physically and functionally integrated at every level," said Brig. Gen. Thomas Bussiere, 509th Bomb Wing commander. "When you walk on the flight line at Whiteman, you can't tell the difference between an active-duty or Guard pilot, maintainer, or load crew team. This certification was the last remaining event to align our mission capabilities and we are honored to be defending this great nation with the warriors of the Missouri Air National Guard!"

The first combat total force integration mission the wings conducted came in March 2011 when three B-2s flew over Libya, dropping 45 Joint Direct Attack Munitions to destroy hardened aircraft shelters, crippling Muammar Gaddafi's air forces and helping enforce the United Nations' no-fly zone.

The six aircrew members who flew that mission included both active duty and Guard pilots, demonstrating success in the first real-world combat mission the B-2 conducted since Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

"Our certification is a culmination of years of long hours and concentrated effort coupled with each Airman's determination to go above and beyond every day," said Chief Master Sgt. Paul Carney, 131st Bomb Wing command chief. "It was no easy feat logistically to move the wing and take on a new mission, especially one as demanding as the no-fail nuclear mission...but we did it."

In 2008, the 131st Bomb Wing achieved another major milestone by completing the first B-2 sortie flown and launched by Missouri Air National Guard personnel from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo, June 18. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jessica Snow/RELEASED)

Kentucky ANG joins with Army for Transportation Command earthquake-response exercise

Members of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group offload an all-terrain vehicle at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, Ill., on Aug. 5, 2013, as part of Exercise Gateway Relief, a U.S. Transportation Command-directed earthquake-response scenario. The vehicle, which serves as a mobile command post, is equipped with satellite communications gear that allows a Joint Assessment Team to establish secure voice and data communications with USTRANSCOM officials upon landing at a non-functional airfield, reporting the status of facilities and the ability to support relief operations. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Dale Greer)

by Maj. Dale Greer,  123rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MASCOUTAH, Ill. -- Nearly 100 members of the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Contingency Response Group and the U.S. Army's 689th Rapid Port Opening Element deployed to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport on Monday to set up a logistics hub as part of Exercise Gateway Relief, an earthquake-response scenario directed by United States Transportation Command.

An additional 37 Kentucky Air Guardsmen are expected to arrive today, completing the mission's full staffing at 135 personnel, said Col. Mark Heiniger, commander of the 123rd CRG.

The two units will work together through Friday to stand up and operate a Joint Task Force-Port Opening, or JTF-PO, which combines an Air Force Aerial Port of Debarkation with an Army trucking and distribution unit. The aerial port ensures the smooth flow of cargo and relief supplies into disaster areas via airlift, while the trucking unit facilitates final distribution over land.

"Our mission is to rapidly establish a Joint Task Force-Port Opening, with the 123rd CRG providing air mobility expertise and the 689th RPOE providing ground surface-movement expertise," said Heiniger, who is also JTF-PO commander.

"We will operate as one team to expedite the movement of cargo from MidAmerica St. Louis Airport to a forward node for further distribution. The goal is the safe and expeditious movement of cargo and passengers with accurate in-transit visibility: getting the right stuff to the right place at the right time."

This combined air-land capability, which exists in only one Unified Combatant Command, USTRANSCOM, is designed to provide key assistance during national or international emergencies, officials said. In the United States, for example, a JTF-PO can help civilian authorities respond to natural disasters like hurricanes or earthquakes.

This week's exercise is based on a scenario in which two major earthquakes have struck the New Madrid Seismic Zone, resulting in mass casualties and widespread destruction across Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee.

The deployed Airmen and Soldiers have been tasked with setting up operations at a notionally inoperative airfield. An initial Joint Assessment Team of 11 personnel arrived Monday morning via a Kentucky Air Guard C-130 to survey the airport, determine whether the infrastructure could support large-scale relief operations, and provide a "go-no go" decision to U.S. Transportation Command within four hours of arrival.

Once the site was approved, the Airmen began accepting follow-on personnel and the multiple planeloads of equipment necessary to execute the mission. The Army and Air Force units bring everything they need to operate a JTF-PO, from all-terrain forklifts, satellite communications gear and sleeping quarters to aircraft mechanics, security forces and power-production specialists.

Heiniger said he was pleased with the progress of the operation so far, noting that all timelines have been met successfully.

"As just one example," he said, "the Joint Assessment Team is required to establish secure data communications with USTRANSCOM within four hours of landing at the airfield. Our personnel accomplished the requirement in just six minutes yesterday. Moreover, the entire assessment is supposed to take up to 24 hours to complete, but we were ready to go in four."

Heiniger also said he is pleased with interoperability between the 123rd, based in Louisville, Ky., and the active-duty 689th, from Fort Eustis, Va.

"The cooperation with the Army folks, the teamwork so far, and their willingness to support us and for us to support them, has been exceptional," he said. "Without a team approach, we can't do this mission."

Army Capt. Charles Greene, commander of the 689th, agreed.

"Yesterday, we were able to jointly set up our clearance yard at the Port of Debarkation and establish our forward node, incorporating security forces from the Kentucky Air Guard," he said.

"We were able to accomplish these tasks quicker than I've ever seen in recent memory. Everyone's working very well together, and we're ready to execute."

Both units are being evaluated by U.S. Transportation Command this week to verify their ability to perform the JTF-PO mission.

New York Air National Guard kicks off Antarctic science support Tuesday

Master Sgt. Carmello Modesto loads equipment sleds destined for the U.S. Antarctic Program's South Pole research station into the back of an LC-130 Hercules. (Defense Department photo)

 STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Scotia, N.Y. - The New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing kicks off its annual support for the National Science Foundation in Antarctica as ski-equipped LC-130s head for Antarctica on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Two aircraft will depart on the five-day, 11,000- mile trip to Antarctica on each day. A total of six ski-equipped LC-130 aircraft will be on the ice during the October to February period. These aircraft will support the National Science Foundation's research in the Antarctic running supplies and people to field camps across the continent and the South Pole station.

The ski-equipped LC-130s operated by the 109th Airlift Wing are the only aircraft in the United States military capable of landing on snow and ice. This is the 24th year that the 109th will support operations in Antarctica.

The New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing plays a critical role in supporting National Science Foundation research across Antarctica. About 120 members of the New York Air National Guard will be deployed to Antarctica throughout the support season. The airmen deploy for 30 to 60 days each, working two 12-hour shifts to cover 24-hour operations, six days each week. They work a half-day on Sunday.

Based at the United States Antarctic Program base at McMurdo Station, the 109th is slated to fly more than 350 missions across the continent, with more than half of those moving passengers, cargo and fuel to the South Pole. The majority of supplies that reach the United States Amundsen–Scott Base at the South Pole are ferried there by the 109th Airlift Wing.

Despite the cold, the maintenance crews normally attain a high reliability rate for each aircraft, allowing the flight crews to carry as much cargo as possible to remote Antarctic outposts. The wing accumulates roughly 3,000 hours of flying time in the 16-week season. This is almost as much as most Air National Guard C-130 units fly in a year.

All maintenance performed on the aircraft is done outside on the snow and ice without the use of hangars. This requires maintainers to undergo specialized training for both maintenance procedures and personal extreme weather survival training.

U.S. military support for Operation Deep Freeze is a Pacific Command responsibility organized as Joint Task Force -Support Forces Antarctica. The Joint Task Force includes cargo and fuel tanker ships provided by Military Sealift Command, active-duty and Reserve C-17 support from the 62nd and 446th Airlift Wings at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules flown by the 109thAirlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard, as well as Coast Guard icebreakers and the Navy Cargo Handling Battalion One to provide critical port services at McMurdo Station.
The airlift part of Operation Deep Freeze operates from two primary locations with C-17s situated at Christchurch, New Zealand, and LC-130 Hercules forward based at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, beginning in late October.

Kansas National Guard members demonstrate CBRN skills during Vibrant Response 13 training exercise

By Army Sgt. Terence Ewings, U.S. Army

MUSCATATUCK URBAN TRAINING CENTER, Ind. - Kansas Army and Air National Guard members assigned to the 73rd Civil Support Team - Weapons of Mass Destruction - conducted a decontamination training exercise as part of Vibrant Response 13 here, Monday.

As chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear response team specialists, the 73rd CST service members were responsible for identifying, assessing, assisting and providing CBRN information to their incident commander as part of Joint Task Force Civil Support.

“After almost two full-days of training, this has exceeded our expectations as an excellent training venue,” said Lt. Col. Dirk Christian, commander of the civil support team. “The unit completed a lot of collective training events preparing for the Vibrant Response exercise, and it’s all really starting to pay-off.”

During the exercise, Christian’s team was responsible for identifying possible hazardous contaminants in three separate facilities around the training center. Once contaminants were identified the chemical specialists were responsible for assessing the situation and evacuated civilians in the immediate area.

This is 73rd CST’s first rotation and is the second Kansas National Guard unit to participate in the Vibrant Response exercise.

In the event of a man-made or natural disaster in country, the 73rd CST stands ready to implement their CBRN skills to support civil authorities.

“While we’re downrange conducting operations, 40 minutes that we spend downrange could save 40 people or it could save 40,000 people,” said Christian, emphasizing the importance of his CBRN first responders and reporting the information up to the incident commander.

Army Sgt. Claude Williams, one of the first responders assigned to the 73rd CST, is responsible for entering the facilities with possible contaminants, identifying the contaminants and finding any injured personnel within the area who may need assistance.

“We have a lot of talent on our team, and just like any team you have star players that shine and bring their A-game; Williams is one of those people,” Christian said.

After assessing the overall situation during the training venue, Williams reported back the information that he collected, so other teams could go through the area to prevent the spread of the hazardous contaminants and evacuate the civilians.

Using the information received by Williams, the team was able to quickly and efficiently navigate through the buildings and rescue the role-players and mannequins, posing as injured civilians, during the exercise.

“I’m very proud to be a part of this team; it’s really an amazing feeling,” he said.

Williams, who comes from a long-line of family members who served in the Kansas National Guard, believes the 73rd CST is more than ready to support the American people in the event of an actual disaster in country.

“It’s really an amazing experience to see what would happen if something like this were to occur,” said Williams. “I know a lot of people are afraid of things like this, and it makes me really proud to say if something like this ever happened it would be partly my responsibility to help fix it.”

The 73rd CST will continue to support JTF-CS while conducting the Vibrant Response exercise, which is schedule to end later this month.

New York Air Guard unit to be renamed to reflect current mission

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The New York Air National Guard's 174th Fighter Wing will become the 174th Attack Wing, Sept. 9, 2012.

The new name for the historic unit reflects the change of mission from flying fighter aircraft to operating the MQ-9 Reaper, a remotely piloted aircraft, which the wing has done since December 2009.

The new designation was requested by unit leadership shortly after the unit ended its F-16 Fighting Falcon mission with the last F-16 departing Syracuse in March 2010.

"When we ended our proud 60-year history of flying fighter aircraft, it was decided to request a change in our designation to more closely align with our new mission," said Air Force Col. Greg Semmel, the 174th Fighter Wing commander. "We selected the 'Attack' designation because it mirrors the organization nomenclature already used by all three Air Force active duty MQ-9 squadrons."

Along with the change in name of the wing, the 138th Fighter Squadron, a sub-organization under the wing which operates the MQ-9 combat mission, is changing its name to the 138th Attack Squadron.

Currently, three other Air Force squadrons which operate the MQ-9 have already been designated as attack squadrons. More importantly, the 174th Fighter Wing and 138th Fighter Squadron will retain their history and lineage after the new designation.

The Institute of Heraldry, which provides insignia to all branches of the military, is preparing a new unit emblem for the 174th to reflect the name change.

The 174th Fighter Wing was established in 1947 as the first Air National Guard flying unit in New York State. It currently flies the state-of-the-art MQ-9 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
The newly designated 174th Attack Wing will continue its combat mission as well as its multiple training missions, including operating the Field Training Detachment which trains all Air Force personnel on MQ-9 maintenance procedures, and the Formal Training Unit which provides initial qualification training to MQ-9 aircrew.

California Air Guard members participate in largest Rim of the Pacific exercise

By Air National Guard Master Sgt. David J. Loeffler, 144th Fighter Wing, California National Guard

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii - Air National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcons from the California Air National Guard’s 144th Fighter Wing, have begun to rip across the blue Hawaiian skies as more than 25,000 U.S. and foreign military service members participate in the 2012 Rim of the Pacific exercise.

RIMPAC 2012 – largest Rim of the Pacific exercise ever – is the twenty-third exercise in a history of bi-annual drills that dates back four decades, providing a unique and dynamic training environment in which multiple nations can exchange ideas and train together with the primary mission of securing open sea-lanes and protecting maritime lines of communication.

Since its inception in 1971, RIMPAC has grown in overall numbers as well as numbers of countries participating with India, Russia, Norway, Mexico, the Philippines, and Tonga participating for the first time this year.

“RIMPAC is a great opportunity for our team,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Scott Seyfarth, the project officer of the 144th FW. “We will be working with 22 nations, 42 surface ships, seven submarines, more than 170 aircraft, and over 25,000 personnel.

“This will be the largest RIMPAC exercise to date. The lessons learned and experience gained in integrating with the other international exercise partners will be invaluable,” he said. “This exercise allows us to work with our partner nations at both a strategic and tactical level.”

The 144th FW arrived here July 13 with eight of their F-16s, 32 pallets of cargo, and 110 California Guard members. The wing’s mission will be to launch sorties to meet the air tasking order, providing a unique opportunity for the pilots of the 144th FW to fight in a joint dissimilar air combat environment with other U.S. Air Force and Navy units, as well as Canadian air force units.

“We have brought over one hundred highly dedicated and well trained Airmen to this RIMPAC exercise to support our mission,” Seyfarth said.

“None of this would be possible without the support from the most junior Airman on the maintenance or logistic teams all the way up the chain. Without their hard work and dedication, our pilots don’t fly,” said Seyfarth.

The best training comes when the unit executes its primary mission of air dominance while providing air escort for large strike packages against simulated air and surface threats.

“During the exercise, the wing will be flying over 140 sorties, which equates to approximately 300 hours of flight time,” Seyfarth said. “This training is perfectly tailored to allow our pilots and Airmen to train to our primary real-world mission of providing air superiority worldwide,” he said.

The men and women of the 144th FW will continue to support the RIMPAC exercise through its conclusion in early August.

ANG TACPs hold first maritime exercise

Airmen from the New York Air National Guard’s 274th Air Support Operations Squadron stationed at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, Syracuse, New York use global positioning satellite and other communications equipment aboard a U.S. Coast Guard cutter during a training operation on Lake Ontario on June 18, 2012. (New York Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeremy M. Call)

by Master Sgt. Kevin Colbert, 274th Air Support Operations Squadron

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. (AFNS) -- Tactical Air Control Party Members (TACP) and Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC) from the 274th Air Support Operations Squadron (ASOS) from Syracuse, New York participated in a first-of-its-kind Joint Maritime Operations exercise recently on Lake Ontario.
The exercise was in conjunction with members from the 152nd Air Operations Group (AOG), the 174th Fighter Wing MQ-9 Formal Training Unit (FTU), the New York Naval Militia, the U.S. Coast Guard Station Oswego, and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

The exercise is believed to be the first time that an ASOS unit has conducted joint training operations with a remotely piloted aircraft in a maritime setting. The objective of the 274th was to determine the extent that their communications equipment, well-adapted to land-based interfacing, could maintain functionality over water, and to further define what value-added resources an ASOS could contribute to a maritime operation.

A decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan has demonstrated the versatility of the ASOS community in executing its primary mission of close-air support (CAS) and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). The incorporation of TACPs and JTACs into maritime operations is in keeping with the 274th's commitment to broaden its scope of contributions to joint operations.

Two scenarios were encountered over the three-day exercise. The first involved a simulated counter-piracy operation in which JTACs controlled a MQ-9 Reaper while aboard a Coast Guard vessel, the mission being to find, fix, track, and simulate a precision-guided munition (PGM) attack on hostile targets ashore and afloat. "We met our objectives and soundly demonstrated the advantages of having JTACs integrated into maritime operations," said Staff Sgt. Shane Cutlip, a 274th ASOS JTAC.

The second scenario involved a search-and-rescue of a downed pilot; the JTACs providing the Coast Guard crew with full-motion video of the downed pilot, transmitted from the MQ-9. "The integration of the MQ-9 and Coast Guard search and rescue crews will dramatically reduce the time required to respond to vessels or personnel in distress on Lake Ontario," said Maj. Patrick Cox, 274th ASOS Commander.

The growth of maritime operations will necessitate the further integration of air and naval assets. The 274th ASOS is determined to be fully prepared to participate in that transition.

Crashed firefighting-equipped C-130 from North Carolina ANG

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNS) -- The North Carolina Air National Guard - and indeed the National Guard across all of North Carolina and the country - is grieving today.

The military C-130 equipped with the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, otherwise known as MAFFS, that crashed while battling a fire in Southwestern South Dakota at approximately 6:30 p.m. mountain time Sunday belonged to the North Carolina Air National Guard's 145th Airlift Wing based at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.

There were casualties, and our thoughts and prayers go out to those who were injured and those who lost their lives. The family members of these Airmen are especially on our minds. We will provide further details on the status of the casualties soon.

The cause of the crash has not been determined, and the incident is under investigation. At the time of the crash, the crew was fighting the White Draw Fire near the town of Edgemont, S.D.

As a prudent measure, the MAFFS-equipped C-130s are on an operational hold at the present time.

U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell said the agency is deeply saddened by this tragic incident. "The agency fully supports the decision by the military to stand-down its MAFFS operation to address the needs of personnel and families and ensure the safety of the mission when it resumes. The agency will continue to allocate available firefighting assets according to the prioritization of incidents."

Montana Air Guard unit’s asset makes disaster communication simpler

By Air National Guard Senior Master Sgt. Eric Peterson, 120th Fighter Wing

GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Since 2007, the 120th Communications Flight has operated a vehicle containing communications equipment that is able to respond to natural disasters or other emergencies occurring within Montana.

The Continuity of Operations Project vehicle is a Montana Air National Guard asset that can link on-scene emergency responders with command and control centers located anywhere in the country. Important decisions can then be made once the near real-time video is transmitted and studied by the command staff.

In addition to being able to stream internet video from the remotely controlled pan/tilt camera, the COOP truck offers Voice-Over-Internet Protocol telephone service, numerous radio bands, and the ability to set up video teleconferencing for emergency personnel at the deployed location.

The 120th Communications Flight commander, Air Force Lt. Col. Corey Halvorson, considers the communications technology offered by the COOP truck to be a valuable addition to any emergency response.

"Accurate and timely communication is the key to success in any contingency operation,” Halvorson said. “The COOP truck with its unique capabilities is a tool for command and control to ensure mission success and aids greatly in the preservation of life and property.”

The 120th cyber transport noncommissioned officer in charge, Air Force Master Sgt. Chris Wilson, said the high-tech services offered by the COOP truck are requested often to be used for training during exercises and real-world emergency events.

"Today, wireless internet is becoming such a big issue. Everyone needs to get on the internet,” Wilson said. “Whether you need maps or the ability to stream real-time video of the scene, everybody's going to need to get online. So we have the capability to hard wire to a laptop sitting in a tent or broadcast a wireless signal so people can still use their cell phones and wireless laptop computers to access the information they need.”

According to the assistant cyber transport noncommissioned officer in charge, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ray Cozino, the truck also offers an outstanding opportunity for 120th personnel to train on modern communications equipment. So far, eight of the 120th Communications Flight personnel have been fully trained in the operation of the truck and its high-tech equipment.

The COOP truck and its personnel have participated in 12 exercises and real-world events, including two major forest fires. Its services were well received by personnel assigned to the 120th Medical Group during the Vigilant Guard exercise held in Helena in 2009.

The communications personnel set up and operated the COOP truck equipment at Fort Harrison during the four-day exercise.

"One of the more challenging exercises that we participated in was the Vigilant Guard exercise, which was for a whole FEMA region, so there were a lot of different entities involved and it really put our truck to the test,” Cozino said. “We were tasked with providing communications for the Medical Group as they ran through all their different scenarios. We ran four Guardsmen through the truck and trained them and provided 24-hour communications for the duration of the exercise.”

Agencies responding to the scene of an emergency can often find that they use dissimilar radios broadcasting over different frequencies. The COOP truck can receive all of the frequencies and retransmit back to each radio in a signal common to all of the agencies.

"The radio world is so complex, whether it's a forest fire and you're dealing with the Forest Service and local volunteer fire departments and the local sheriff's office that [are] providing roadblocks and security;” Wilson said. “Those agencies are all operating on different frequencies and different bands of radios. With this truck, we're able to make all those people communicate more effectively and efficiently.”

Local, state and federal agencies can benefit from the services of the COOP truck during an exercise or a real-world emergency. The Montana Air National Guard maintains memorandum of agreements to assist Malmstrom Air Force Base; the Montana Army National Guard; the Great Falls Police Department; the Great Falls Fire and Rescue; the Cascade County Sherriff's Office; the Disaster and Emergency Services, and the Great Falls International Airport.

Wilson said the COOP truck is one of only four specialized military vehicles with the capability to provide communications support in the event of a natural disaster in the state.

The Montana Army National Guard also operates a nearly identical COOP truck which allows for cooperative training to occur between the Guard units.

Kentucky Air Guard to support, participate in Thunder Over Louisville

Two U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor fighters taxi into the Louisville Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky. April 18, 2012 prior to the 2012 Thunder Over Louisville Air Show. The Raptor Demo Team, based out of Langley Air Force Base, Va., will be one of the show's marquee events. The Kentucky Air Guard is once again supporting military aircraft for Thunder, which has grown to become one of the largest air shows in North America, organizers say. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Maj. Dale Greer)

By Air National Guard Master Sgt. Phil Speck, 123rd Airlift Wing

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Airlift Wing is scheduled to support the 2012 Thunder Over Louisville Air Show April 21, providing logistic and maintenance support for military aircraft scheduled to appear at this year's show.

The April 21 event promises to be one of the biggest yet, said Air Force Capt. Josh Ketterer, a C-130 Hercules pilot with the 123rd AW, and the Kentucky Air National Guard's Thunder coordinator.

This year's schedule features more than 25 current military planes and helicopters from the across the U.S. armed forces and Canadian military, as well as variety of historic aircraft. Highlights of the show this year include the F-22 Raptor, a B-2 Stealth Bomber and F/A-18 Hornets.

"The public will see a representation of every single service, and every single type of military aircraft during the air show," Ketterer said. "It will be impressive."

A special segment of the six-hour program will highlight Marine Corps aircraft in recognition of the Corps' 100th year of flying operations. The United States Marine Corps began its aviation program on May 22, 1912.

Marine Corps Sgt. Dakota Meyer, a Medal of Honor recipient and Kentucky native, will be featured during the Marine aviation segment by sitting in the back seat of an AV-8B Harrier during its aerial demonstration over the Ohio River.

As always, the Kentucky Air Guard will provide logistical, security and maintenance support for military aircraft throughout the day.

"It's an honor for us to support this event, which is now in its 22nd year and has become one of the most successful air shows in the nation," Ketterer said. "For the past 21 years, the 123rd Airlift Wing has consistently provided a high level of service to the community and a high level of hospitality to our visiting air crews and maintainers during Thunder. This year will be no different.

"We know our efforts allow hundreds of thousands of people to see the nation's military aircraft up close, whether they're watching them in person along the riverfront or tuning in to the live telecast."

The Kentucky Air Guard's 123rd Special Tactics Squadron will kick off the air show Saturday when four pararescuemen are scheduled to parachute out of a Kentucky C-130 aircraft and land in the Ohio River, where they will be recovered by other members of the special tactics team.