The US Air Force is a large branch of the US military. The service has almost 500,000 people, over 100,000 of whom serve in the Air National Guard. While the Air National Guard is a small portion of the overall force, it is an interesting faction of the US Air Force because of its dual mission: serving both the United States of America and its state or territory.
The US Air National Guard and its mission
Photo: United States Air Force
The Air National Guard began got its start at the turn of the twentieth century as a part of the US Army National Guard. Powered flight had just become a reality, and, as with any new technology, the military was interested in how it could be leveraged for their benefit on the battlefield. At that time, the US Air Force had not become its own service. It was still a part of the US Army – the Army Air Corps. It was not until 1947 that the US Air Force became its own separate branch of the US military.
Photo: USAF
The Air National Guard differs from its active and reserve counterparts in that its members are part of a specific state Air National Guard unit. These members can be used by their state’s Governor as needed for emergency assistance. This allows National Guard Airmen to be a force multiplier for emergency services during and after natural disasters. They can also be activated by the federal government when necessary.
How Air National Guardsmen are trained
Photo: 147th Attack Wing Public Affairs (Texas Air National Guard) | US Air Force
The Air National Guard has always been important to aviation within the US. It has often been a source of training for pilots and maintenance personnel who might not join the US Air Force due to conflicts with their civilian careers. Air National Guard Airmen receive the same training as their active duty counterparts, starting with basic training and also during their technical training. It isn’t until their technical training is completed that they can return to their unit to continue their training part-time.
The Air National Guard is also useful in retaining experienced Airmen who no longer want to continue their career on active duty but are willing to serve in a part-time capacity while pursuing other civilian careers. This is a benefit to the US because it allows these individuals to remain trained and available in the event that they are required to be activated. The Air National Guard is also a common option for airline pilots; some get their initial flying training from the government.
Photo: Getty Images
Every state in the US has at least one Air National Guard Wing. The Air National Guard also has
units in the District of Columbia and the US territories of Guam, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. There are also some famous aviators who have been Guardsmen. One early example is Charles Lindbergh, who was in the Missouri National Guard and is famous for the first transatlantic flight from New York to Paris and as an early airmail pilot. Another famous Guardsman was President George W. Bush, who was a pilot in the Texas Air National Guard.
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Unique Air National Guard missions
While much of the Air National Guard trains like and sometimes directly with their active duty counterparts, the Air National Guard is also trusted with some unique missions. One of these is operating aircraft outfitted to fight wildfires. Air National Guard Wings in the states of California, Wyoming, and North Carolina that operate C-130 aircraft are outfitted with MAFFS units. These units are located in an area prone to wildfires, so they can have a direct impact on protecting their own communities.
These MAFFS units can be loaded onto a C-130 aircraft with no modifications. They are designed to be loaded onto the aircraft in a minimum amount of time and convert a normal C-130 cargo aircraft into an air tanker that can unload 3,000 gallons of water and retardant in less than five seconds. The Wings with these units assigned to them are required to maintain five certified aircrews for each unit.
Photo: Air Force
Another unique mission that the Air National Guard flies is flown by the 109th Airlift Wing in New York. This unit is the only one equipped with an LC-130 aircraft that flies with skis attached to the aircraft’s landing gear. These aircraft are used to land on ice, allowing flights into the Arctic and Antarctica. This is important to scientific research in the world’s most remote areas.
SMSGT DAVID H. LIPP, USAF
F-16 afterburner takeoff
The Air National Guard has also been a major factor in the air defense response in the aftermath of the attacks on September 11, 2001. The initial fighter aircraft on-site in the Northeastern part of the US came from alert aircraft that were launched from Otis ANGB in Massachusetts and Langley AFB in Virginia. Within 24 hours after the attacks, Air National Guard aircraft from 34 units nationwide were airborne, and combat air patrols were conducted to ensure no other attacks occurred.
The members of the Air National Guard play a vital role in ensuring the safety and security of the US both at home and abroad. They operate some specialized equipment that is not afforded to the active-duty Air Force. They are also available to be utilized as a force multiplier in time of need during a crisis at home or to be deployed worldwide alongside their active-duty counterparts.
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Publish date : 2024-11-04 08:42:00
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