PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Happy May, and hello to the members of the 146 Airlift Wing and the Wing Association. It has been an eventful few months for the Wing and our Association. As you read through the Commander's comments, you will see the activities keeping the Wing so busy.
The Association is looking forward to bringing active and retired members together for an exciting year as we prepare for the 100-year anniversary of the 115th Airlift Squadron. The 100-year Anniversary/ Family Day will occur on August 4 at the 146th. Col. Dougherty has confirmed that this event/family day is open to all members and their families. This is a great time to revisit the 146th and see all the new changes. Please make sure you have your Military ID card with you.
With summer approaching, the 146th is actively working on MAFFS certifications. The base has been very busy flying drops throughout the past week to prepare for the fire season. Due to the high activities and minimal staffing, call first if you need to go out.
As you will read in the commander's letter, the Wing has been recognized in many areas. I know one area that is so widely watched is recruiting and retention. They took home the Commander's Cup (best overall team award) this year. Thatteam's effort gave the 146th a 110% end strength and a 97% retention rate. Great job from the team, and special thanks to MSgt Naz Quiroz and Amanda Smith.
On January 31, we hosted an informal lunch at the Alamo Restaurant in Newbury Park. We had almost 40 attendees, many of whom we had not seen in a long time. Wing Commander COL Dougherty gave an exciting recap of what is happening in the Wing. [For more details, see his comments in his Commander's Message.] Dan Pemberton read a very moving letter from Kathyjo Rushing, who spoke about her final words with Chris just minutes before his crash at the Reno Airshow on September 17. We will continue hosting lunch events in the future as they seem very popular with our retirees. We will select restaurants that can hold 40 to 50 people and let us order and pay individually from the menu.
We are returning to the Scholarship season and looking forward to getting students' applications. Please note that this year's signup ends August 15. All information is on the 146thwingassociation.org website. As always, we look forward to any donations to this fund. As a reminder, we are a 501 ( c ) 3 charitable organization. If you are looking for a tax deduction or just want to support the members of the Wing, this is a great way to do so.
The Association has been very fortunate to interact greatly with the Wing and its Staff. This year has brought many challenges to the Wing, and we are happy we could assist them and our Guard family.
I ask that all current members encourage those not participating in the Association to join. This Association cannotcontinue the high caliber of care and assistance without all our support. As a reminder we look forward to your involvement in the functions planned this year. As a service organization, and a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization, we will always keep our members first and our mission to support the Wing and its members a top priority.
Please just drop us a quick note with your suggestions to: Rronsgard@verizon.net. and/or bobk@scta.usta.com.
Your Association looks forward to seeing you at one of our functions this year.
Richard Onsgard
President – 146th Wing Association
http://www.146thwingassociation.org
The Association is looking forward to bringing active and retired members together for an exciting year as we prepare for the 100-year anniversary of the 115th Airlift Squadron. The 100-year Anniversary/ Family Day will occur on August 4 at the 146th. Col. Dougherty has confirmed that this event/family day is open to all members and their families. This is a great time to revisit the 146th and see all the new changes. Please make sure you have your Military ID card with you.
With summer approaching, the 146th is actively working on MAFFS certifications. The base has been very busy flying drops throughout the past week to prepare for the fire season. Due to the high activities and minimal staffing, call first if you need to go out.
As you will read in the commander's letter, the Wing has been recognized in many areas. I know one area that is so widely watched is recruiting and retention. They took home the Commander's Cup (best overall team award) this year. Thatteam's effort gave the 146th a 110% end strength and a 97% retention rate. Great job from the team, and special thanks to MSgt Naz Quiroz and Amanda Smith.
On January 31, we hosted an informal lunch at the Alamo Restaurant in Newbury Park. We had almost 40 attendees, many of whom we had not seen in a long time. Wing Commander COL Dougherty gave an exciting recap of what is happening in the Wing. [For more details, see his comments in his Commander's Message.] Dan Pemberton read a very moving letter from Kathyjo Rushing, who spoke about her final words with Chris just minutes before his crash at the Reno Airshow on September 17. We will continue hosting lunch events in the future as they seem very popular with our retirees. We will select restaurants that can hold 40 to 50 people and let us order and pay individually from the menu.
We are returning to the Scholarship season and looking forward to getting students' applications. Please note that this year's signup ends August 15. All information is on the 146thwingassociation.org website. As always, we look forward to any donations to this fund. As a reminder, we are a 501 ( c ) 3 charitable organization. If you are looking for a tax deduction or just want to support the members of the Wing, this is a great way to do so.
The Association has been very fortunate to interact greatly with the Wing and its Staff. This year has brought many challenges to the Wing, and we are happy we could assist them and our Guard family.
I ask that all current members encourage those not participating in the Association to join. This Association cannotcontinue the high caliber of care and assistance without all our support. As a reminder we look forward to your involvement in the functions planned this year. As a service organization, and a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization, we will always keep our members first and our mission to support the Wing and its members a top priority.
Please just drop us a quick note with your suggestions to: Rronsgard@verizon.net. and/or bobk@scta.usta.com.
Your Association looks forward to seeing you at one of our functions this year.
Richard Onsgard
President – 146th Wing Association
http://www.146thwingassociation.org
146th Airlift Wing Quarterly Report April 2024 I write this having just returned from the annual CA ANG recruiting and retention awards, where the 146th AW took home the Commander's Cup (best overall team award), the best retention officer manager (MSgt Naz Quiroz) and the best team chief (MSgt Amanda Smith). With 110% end strength and 97% retention rate, they truly deserve it for their efforts. I could not be prouder of the team and am expecting them to uphold the same pace and level of excellence through the rest of the year. Speaking of awards, I'm also proud to relay additional recognition of the Hollywood Guard. 2 members of our Civil Engineering squadron, MSgt Jaime Jimenez and SrA Clark Girbovan won the Chief Master Sergeant Larry R. Daniels Award (superintendent) and the Major General Eugene A. Lupia Award (Airman level) respectively, and our current Wing Inspector General, Major Jonathan Fruit, won the Field Grade Officer of the Year Award at SMEOY.
The Airmen of the 146th Airlift Wing are truly the lifeblood of the organization, and we would not be successful without them. Our Operations and Maintenance Groups have been busy as ever, participating locally in the fighter-centric Exercise Agile Flag (January), Hawaii missile support (February) and numerous Guardlift missions. They are also preparing for our annual MAFFS certification, which starts next week, and our ESGR-supported recognition of our civilian employers, aka the "Hollywood Bosslift", which will occur over May UTA. In June, they will embark on our AFFORGEN certification event at various locations throughout the Pacific region, assisted by our Contingency Response Team.
Our Maintenance Group is full steam ahead with AFREP, which will hopefully produce additional funding for our Wing through the internal repair and distribution of necessary supply items for the Air Force. Under the Mission Support Group, our FSS team has been working through the challenges and intricacies of the new Unit Manning Document re-leveling efforts across the entire ANG. The 146th Airlift wing lost a net total of 6 Enlisted AGRs which is difficult to swallow when we're already limited on fulltime resources in a high ops-tempo environment. Last UTA we just had the ribbon-cutting ceremony for our "Hollywood Hut" – a small facility intended to create a morale-boosting location for our Wing members that offers coffee, snacks and camaraderie by our Wing resiliency team. Next time you're in town, I encourage you to visit! Across the Wing, we are also absorbing and disseminating the results of our annual DEOCS survey that was administered in November of last year, utilizing the IPPW team under the People First Directorate to assist with DEOCS action plan implementation.
Construction updates: The simulator building is progressing with exterior/interior construction, making great strides.However, CE and base contracting are discussing with the contractor the estimated completion date slippage due to material and weather delays (approx. mid July). The maintenance hangar is undergoing construction package review while awaiting FY24 solicitation and reprogramming at NGB. Additionally, CE is working with maintenance group and contracting on a separate moving solution and anticipating approved funding to flow from A4 for a relocatable facility during the repair timeframe. The fire alarms project is also undergoing construction package review in preparation for FY24 solicitation. CE is closely monitoring the solicitation start dates for both the hangar and fire alarms projects. In line with my base resiliency initiatives, CE is also discussing redundant power and water tie-ins with local utility companies and NGB.
Additionally, CE is working with NGB to acquire design funds for the electrical repair project. Although our simulator facility is still on schedule to be completed by summertime of this year, we are currently seeking alternate solutions to the unfortunate news from AMC (with NGB concurrence) that our simulator will not be delivered until at least the end of FY 27. This is problematic on many fronts, namely aircrew readiness and MAFFs proficiency. My intent is to utilize CODEL support to seek funding of 2 additional ANG C-130J simulators, one to be placed at Channel Islands, and another located elsewhere toward the middle of the country. This is in support of the C-130 Weapons System Council initiatives, allowing for an adequate throughput of congressionally mandated conversions of C-130H to J aircrews relevant to NDS and ANG enterprise priorities. Additionally, I am also advocating to recapitalize our aging C-130Js located at Channel Islands with new J models from the production line. The intent is to upgrade the avionics from block 6.0 to 8.1 faster (which is currently not scheduled to begin until 2028) and will equip our base with newer aircraft to support both DOMOPS and COCOM requirements, relevant to great power competition and SECAF initiatives. Our MAFFS mission is aging our fleet faster than other similar units, driving additional manpower requirements for inspections and repairs. Newer aircraft will save both time and money and will create additional operational flying opportunities - focusing our efforts more on the INDOPACOM region by 2027. Finally, we are looking forward to the end of summertime (Sunday, August 4th), when we will be celebrating the 100-year anniversary of our unit - one of the original Air National Guard units - which began as the 115th Observation Squadron at Clover Field, Santa Monica in 1924, under the Amy Air Corps. Invitations are starting to go out, and we look forward to hosting this significant milestone in true Hollywood Guard fashion! - Col Dougherty
The Airmen of the 146th Airlift Wing are truly the lifeblood of the organization, and we would not be successful without them. Our Operations and Maintenance Groups have been busy as ever, participating locally in the fighter-centric Exercise Agile Flag (January), Hawaii missile support (February) and numerous Guardlift missions. They are also preparing for our annual MAFFS certification, which starts next week, and our ESGR-supported recognition of our civilian employers, aka the "Hollywood Bosslift", which will occur over May UTA. In June, they will embark on our AFFORGEN certification event at various locations throughout the Pacific region, assisted by our Contingency Response Team.
Our Maintenance Group is full steam ahead with AFREP, which will hopefully produce additional funding for our Wing through the internal repair and distribution of necessary supply items for the Air Force. Under the Mission Support Group, our FSS team has been working through the challenges and intricacies of the new Unit Manning Document re-leveling efforts across the entire ANG. The 146th Airlift wing lost a net total of 6 Enlisted AGRs which is difficult to swallow when we're already limited on fulltime resources in a high ops-tempo environment. Last UTA we just had the ribbon-cutting ceremony for our "Hollywood Hut" – a small facility intended to create a morale-boosting location for our Wing members that offers coffee, snacks and camaraderie by our Wing resiliency team. Next time you're in town, I encourage you to visit! Across the Wing, we are also absorbing and disseminating the results of our annual DEOCS survey that was administered in November of last year, utilizing the IPPW team under the People First Directorate to assist with DEOCS action plan implementation.
Construction updates: The simulator building is progressing with exterior/interior construction, making great strides.However, CE and base contracting are discussing with the contractor the estimated completion date slippage due to material and weather delays (approx. mid July). The maintenance hangar is undergoing construction package review while awaiting FY24 solicitation and reprogramming at NGB. Additionally, CE is working with maintenance group and contracting on a separate moving solution and anticipating approved funding to flow from A4 for a relocatable facility during the repair timeframe. The fire alarms project is also undergoing construction package review in preparation for FY24 solicitation. CE is closely monitoring the solicitation start dates for both the hangar and fire alarms projects. In line with my base resiliency initiatives, CE is also discussing redundant power and water tie-ins with local utility companies and NGB.
Additionally, CE is working with NGB to acquire design funds for the electrical repair project. Although our simulator facility is still on schedule to be completed by summertime of this year, we are currently seeking alternate solutions to the unfortunate news from AMC (with NGB concurrence) that our simulator will not be delivered until at least the end of FY 27. This is problematic on many fronts, namely aircrew readiness and MAFFs proficiency. My intent is to utilize CODEL support to seek funding of 2 additional ANG C-130J simulators, one to be placed at Channel Islands, and another located elsewhere toward the middle of the country. This is in support of the C-130 Weapons System Council initiatives, allowing for an adequate throughput of congressionally mandated conversions of C-130H to J aircrews relevant to NDS and ANG enterprise priorities. Additionally, I am also advocating to recapitalize our aging C-130Js located at Channel Islands with new J models from the production line. The intent is to upgrade the avionics from block 6.0 to 8.1 faster (which is currently not scheduled to begin until 2028) and will equip our base with newer aircraft to support both DOMOPS and COCOM requirements, relevant to great power competition and SECAF initiatives. Our MAFFS mission is aging our fleet faster than other similar units, driving additional manpower requirements for inspections and repairs. Newer aircraft will save both time and money and will create additional operational flying opportunities - focusing our efforts more on the INDOPACOM region by 2027. Finally, we are looking forward to the end of summertime (Sunday, August 4th), when we will be celebrating the 100-year anniversary of our unit - one of the original Air National Guard units - which began as the 115th Observation Squadron at Clover Field, Santa Monica in 1924, under the Amy Air Corps. Invitations are starting to go out, and we look forward to hosting this significant milestone in true Hollywood Guard fashion! - Col Dougherty
Hollywood Guard and U.S. Forest Service host critical aerial firefighting training
CHANNEL ISLANDS AIR NATIONAL GUARD STATION, Calif. -- CHANNEL ISLANDS AIR NATIONAL GUARD STATION, Calif. – The U.S. Forest Service held its annual certification and training event for the aerial firefighting program known as MAFFS (Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System) with two of the four assigned Department of Defense aircrews from the Air Force Reserve’s 302nd Airlift Wing, Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing nicknamed the “Hollywood Guard.” Together with wildland fire fighting agencies such as CAL FIRE, and the Bureau of Land Management, the multi-agency MAFFS program kicked off their first iteration of training this week at the Channel Islands Air National Guard Station.
During the same year as its 100-year centennial celebration and one year after the 50-year anniversary of the MAFFS program, the 146th Airlift Wing is hosting MAFFS training for the second year in a row.
MAFFS, a unique partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Defense, shares a combination of resources supporting aerial firefighting operations that include equipment, personnel and aircraft that provide a critical “surge” capability to the U.S. Forest Service to slow or stop the spread of wildland fires when all commercial airtankers within the national airtanker fleet are fully committed or not readily available.
The U.S. Forest Service provides this training event annually, which requires any aircrew supporting this mission to gain their certification before they can support any wildland fire operations as a part of their annual training requirements. Afterwards, MAFFS aircrew will continue to supplement their experience throughout the year once they start supporting MAFFS missions after certification training. Depending on the cadence of what often is a busy fire season, MAFFS personnel must ensure they are making the most out of every opportunity for training.
While the number of wildfires in the U.S. is measured as an average amount for last year, it did hold the record for the fewest acreage burned in the past 25 years.
During this time, MAFFS air tankers were first used on August 3, 2023, and released on September 6, 2023. During that 35-day activation, MAFFS aircrew flew 69 missions providing 73 retardant drops which totaled 185,263 gallons.
While nobody can predict when the next major fire incident will come, the one constant force that is ready to meet the challenges of a busy fire season are the people supporting MAFFS.
Col. DeAnna Franks, the operations group commander for the 302nd Airlift Wing and this year’s Air Expeditionary Group Commander for all Department of Defense assets for the MAFFS mission, says that the annual training events are a pivotal moment within the pre-fire season to ensure readiness across the MAFFS enterprise.
“MAFFS is a robust partnership with many agencies and support functions that work intricately together to accomplish large-scale aerial firefighting missions successfully. This is why MAFFS training is so important because it affords us the opportunity to capitalize on our collaboration efforts with all the agencies participating. Completing our annual training each year is paramount as it allows our aircrews to get those critical training hours we need before we respond to a real fire,” said Franks.
Franks says that the intricate partnership’s success is built on a valued cooperation over the past 50 years.
“Modular, the first word of the MAFFS acronym, might perhaps be the best word to corroborate just how flexible and efficient our working partnerships have developed over the last 50 years. Last year in December, the MAFFS community collectively celebrated it’s 50-year semi-centennial anniversary with all our partners working within the U.S. Forest Service, CAL FIRE, the Bureau of Land Management, as well as many other valued firefighting assets across the county who support the MAFFS mission. It was a great opportunity to reflect on just how impactful this mission is and just how special all the people involved with the MAFFS program are,” said Franks.
Franks added, “For me, when I think about the success of this government program that has been around for as long as it has, it’s clear to me why the MAFFS mission has been so successful. The people of MAFFS are a testament to the program because of all the great work they do, and it’s an absolute honor to work alongside everyone who supports the mission.”
Kim Christensen, deputy assistant director operations for the U.S. Forest Service and one of the driving forces behind the MAFFS training at Channel Islands, has been a part of the MAFFS mission since 2012, says she still loves coming to work with the people involved with the MAFFS mission after all these years.
“The teamwork and partnerships are really what make the program such a success. In addition to the airlift wings, a number of other federal and state agencies and local departments are also involved. The members of the airlift wings that participate in the MAFFS program are consummate professionals. They take the annual training very seriously and are always prepared to assist us with wildfire suppression, whenever asked,” said Christensen.
Utilizing the same training schedule as the year prior, both training events will take place on two separate weeks to help mitigate the busy schedules for the 3 Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve components involved. Two additional Air National Guard units assigned to the MAFFS mission from the Nevada’s 152nd Airlift Wing, and the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing, will also travel to Channel Islands Air National Guard Station to complete their training and certification in early May.
For more information and stories regarding the MAFFS mission, please visit the MAFFS AEG page at https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/MAFFSAEG.
During the same year as its 100-year centennial celebration and one year after the 50-year anniversary of the MAFFS program, the 146th Airlift Wing is hosting MAFFS training for the second year in a row.
MAFFS, a unique partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Defense, shares a combination of resources supporting aerial firefighting operations that include equipment, personnel and aircraft that provide a critical “surge” capability to the U.S. Forest Service to slow or stop the spread of wildland fires when all commercial airtankers within the national airtanker fleet are fully committed or not readily available.
The U.S. Forest Service provides this training event annually, which requires any aircrew supporting this mission to gain their certification before they can support any wildland fire operations as a part of their annual training requirements. Afterwards, MAFFS aircrew will continue to supplement their experience throughout the year once they start supporting MAFFS missions after certification training. Depending on the cadence of what often is a busy fire season, MAFFS personnel must ensure they are making the most out of every opportunity for training.
While the number of wildfires in the U.S. is measured as an average amount for last year, it did hold the record for the fewest acreage burned in the past 25 years.
During this time, MAFFS air tankers were first used on August 3, 2023, and released on September 6, 2023. During that 35-day activation, MAFFS aircrew flew 69 missions providing 73 retardant drops which totaled 185,263 gallons.
While nobody can predict when the next major fire incident will come, the one constant force that is ready to meet the challenges of a busy fire season are the people supporting MAFFS.
Col. DeAnna Franks, the operations group commander for the 302nd Airlift Wing and this year’s Air Expeditionary Group Commander for all Department of Defense assets for the MAFFS mission, says that the annual training events are a pivotal moment within the pre-fire season to ensure readiness across the MAFFS enterprise.
“MAFFS is a robust partnership with many agencies and support functions that work intricately together to accomplish large-scale aerial firefighting missions successfully. This is why MAFFS training is so important because it affords us the opportunity to capitalize on our collaboration efforts with all the agencies participating. Completing our annual training each year is paramount as it allows our aircrews to get those critical training hours we need before we respond to a real fire,” said Franks.
Franks says that the intricate partnership’s success is built on a valued cooperation over the past 50 years.
“Modular, the first word of the MAFFS acronym, might perhaps be the best word to corroborate just how flexible and efficient our working partnerships have developed over the last 50 years. Last year in December, the MAFFS community collectively celebrated it’s 50-year semi-centennial anniversary with all our partners working within the U.S. Forest Service, CAL FIRE, the Bureau of Land Management, as well as many other valued firefighting assets across the county who support the MAFFS mission. It was a great opportunity to reflect on just how impactful this mission is and just how special all the people involved with the MAFFS program are,” said Franks.
Franks added, “For me, when I think about the success of this government program that has been around for as long as it has, it’s clear to me why the MAFFS mission has been so successful. The people of MAFFS are a testament to the program because of all the great work they do, and it’s an absolute honor to work alongside everyone who supports the mission.”
Kim Christensen, deputy assistant director operations for the U.S. Forest Service and one of the driving forces behind the MAFFS training at Channel Islands, has been a part of the MAFFS mission since 2012, says she still loves coming to work with the people involved with the MAFFS mission after all these years.
“The teamwork and partnerships are really what make the program such a success. In addition to the airlift wings, a number of other federal and state agencies and local departments are also involved. The members of the airlift wings that participate in the MAFFS program are consummate professionals. They take the annual training very seriously and are always prepared to assist us with wildfire suppression, whenever asked,” said Christensen.
Utilizing the same training schedule as the year prior, both training events will take place on two separate weeks to help mitigate the busy schedules for the 3 Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve components involved. Two additional Air National Guard units assigned to the MAFFS mission from the Nevada’s 152nd Airlift Wing, and the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing, will also travel to Channel Islands Air National Guard Station to complete their training and certification in early May.
For more information and stories regarding the MAFFS mission, please visit the MAFFS AEG page at https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/MAFFSAEG.
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