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Resources > Fact Sheets > UTAH AIR NATIONAL GUARD
UTAH AIR NATIONAL GUARD
Posted 3/12/2012
Printable Fact Sheet
Mission
The Utah Air National Guard has both a federal and state mission. The dual mission, a provision of the U. S. Constitution, results in each guardsman holding membership in the National Guard of his or her state and in the National Guard of the United States.
Mission Statement
We aggressively extend global reach, power, and humanitarian support for state and nation.
Federal Mission
The Utah Air National Guard's federal mission is to maintain well-trained, well-equipped units available for prompt mobilization during war and provide assistance during national emergencies (such as natural disasters or civil disturbances). During peacetime, the combat-ready units and support units are assigned to most Air Force major commands to carry out missions compatible with training, mobilization readiness, humanitarian and contingency operations such as Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Air National Guard units may be activated in a number of ways as prescribed by public law. Most of the laws may be found in Title 10 of the U.S. Code.
The Air National Guard provides almost half of the Air Force's tactical airlift support, combat communications functions, aero medical evacuations and aerial refueling. In addition, the Air National Guard has total responsibility for air defense of the entire United States.
State Mission
When the Utah Air National Guard units are not mobilized or under federal control, they report to the Governor of the State of Utah, the honorable Gary R. Herbert. The Adjutant General of the Utah National Guard is Maj. General Brian L. Tarbet. Under state law, the Air National Guard provides protection of life, property and preserves peace, order and public safety. These missions are accomplished through emergency relief support during natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and forest fires; search and rescue operations; support to civil defense authorities; maintenance of vital public services and counter drug operations.
Headquarters Unit
Headquarters, Utah Air National Guard
Commands, controls, and supervises Air National Guard units within the state. State ANG Headquarters is The Adjutant General's senior staff providing information, evaluation, issue resolution, and action recommendations regarding the Air National Guard. The commander of the Utah Air National Guard is Brigadier General David R. Fountain.
Flying Units/Functions and Capabilities
151st Air Refueling Wing
The 151 Air Refueling Wing is the single largest component and provides personnel to fly, maintain, and support a KC-135R aerial refueling unit. The unit flies training missions in the western United States and frequently deploys to worldwide locations in support of on-going combat operations.
The 151st Air Refueling Wing is based at the Utah Air National Guard Base in Salt Lake City, Utah. The 151st Air Refueling Wing is the host unit for the Headquarters, Utah Air National Guard and five associate units. The Wing Commander is Colonel Samuel H. Ramsay III. The Vice-Wing Commander is Col. Christine M. Burckle.
Lt. Col. Darwin L. Craig commands the Operations Group, responsible for the operation of the 191st Air Refueling Squadron which provides the aircrew for the aerial refueling mission. Col. David P. Osborne commands the Maintenance Group and provides all the aircraft generation and maintenance functions for the wing. In command of the Mission Support Group is Col. Jack M. Wall and is responsible for all base support functions to include communications, security, civil engineering, personnel, and contracting operations.
Medical units located with parent flying organizations provide day-to-day health care for flying and non-flying people during their two-week annual training period or during monthly two-day unit training assemblies. Commanding the Medical Group is Col. Paul B. Byrd.
Support Unit Functions and Capabilities
In addition to the units that support the host flying wing, the Utah Air National Guard has several associate support organizations that provide a variety of critical functions to the Air Force. These support units are essential to the Air Force mission. In the Utah Air National Guard they include an air control squadron, intelligence squadron, information warfare flight, and an engineering installation squadron.
130th Engineering Installation Squadron
Located on the Utah Air National Guard Base, the unit installs, repairs, removes and relocates ground based electronic communications, computer and navigational aid systems equipment. The commander is Lt. Col. Karen Morris.
109th Air Control Squadron
Located on the Utah Air National Guard Base, the 109th Air Control Squadron provides Air Battle Management to include command and control, surveillance, and identification of airborne objects. Their call-sign is "Warlock" and their motto is "Anytime, Anywhere". The commander is Maj. Randy Stevens.
169th Intelligence Squadron
Located on the Utah Air National Guard Base, the unit provides tactical airborne command, control, communication countermeasures, and intelligence support to U.S. and allied war fighters. The commander is Lt. Col. Jonathan Boyd.
Force Structure
The primary sources of full-time support for Air National Guard units are the dual-status military technician and guardsmen on active duty. These people perform day-to-day management, administration and maintenance. By law, dual-status military technicians are civil service employees of the federal government who must be military members of the unit that employs them. Technicians train with the unit and are mobilized with it when it's activated. Active-duty members, or Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) serve under the command authority of their respective state or territorial governors until mobilized for federal duty.
70% are Traditional Guardsmen (part-time) and 30% are Technicians or AGR (full-time employees).
Personnel and Resources
The authorized strength for the Air National Guard for the current fiscal year is approximately 1,540 members. The operating budget for this fiscal year is $1,858,200 for personnel, $37,942,400 for operation and maintenance for a total of $39,800,600.
History of the Utah Air National Guard
The Utah Air National Guard was founded on November 18, 1946. The Utah Air National Guard is located on over 82 acres in the Northeast corner of the Salt Lake International Airport. Over 1450 trained men and women serve in the Utah Air National Guard and defend the United States of America.
The Utah Air National Guard assignments include real-world military operations and daily activities that are necessary to support state and federal missions and training requirements.
Historical examples of federal service are numerous. Members were called to serve 21 months during the Korean Conflict. Flying P-51 fighter aircraft, 10 pilots flew over 100 missions. Two Utah pilots were killed in this conflict. One Utah Air National Guard pilot, Capt. Cliff Jolley, flying an F-86 Sabre, shot down seven soviet-made MIG-15 aircraft and became the first Air Guard "Ace" of the Korean Conflict. During the Vietnam War, Utah Air Guard crews flew 6,600 hours of support missions for American forces. During the Middle East Crisis in August of 1990, Utah Air National Guard crews were some of the first to volunteer to support Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Utah Air National Guard's support of this operation continued well into 1991.
In 1999, many members were deployed to Europe in support of Operation Allied Force. Members have supported national drug interdiction activities and have provided air refueling for tactical and transportation aircraft supporting military activities involving Bosnia and Southwest Asia. The Utah Air National Guard has participated in several Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) missions, most recently at Anderson Air Force Base, Guam in the summer of 2007.
Since September 11, 2001, over 3,279 Utah Air National Guardsmen* have been activated and deployed for worldwide duty to include Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.
At home, local communities see benefits from the Utah Air National Guard. Many opportunities exist to meet legitimate military training needs while serving the community. Activities include Sub-for-Santa, blood drives, Adopt a School Program, highway cleanup and the 2002 Winter Olympics. The Utah Air National Guard also maintains a state of readiness to meet the needs to support the State of Utah during an earthquake, flood, civil disturbance or major disaster. Utah Air Guardsmen, at the request of the Governor, assisted during Hurricane Katrina and Rita and airlifted evacuees to safety in September of 2005.
March 2012
(*Number is reflective of total times personnel have deployed. Many Utah Air Guardsmen have deployed multiple times.)
Point of Contact
151st ARW, Public Affairs, 765 No. 2200 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, DSN 245-2258 or (801) 245-2258.
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