Wing Happenings 
Wing Happenings
146AW Public Web Page
Band of the Southwest
Recent 146AW articles and RSS feeds of interest
July 2011
7/22 - Ventura County Stand Down 29 - 30 July
2011 Ventura Stand Down
Once again, it's time for the 2011 Ventura County Homeless Veterans
Stand Down. The Stand Down was conducted over the period 27- 31
July for set up, the event itself and clean-up on the 31st.
For those that are not familiar with Stand Down, here is a brief history and
explanation of services provided to homeless veterans. In August 1992, some of
Ventura County's citizens and leaders gathered for a meeting at the Ventura
County Veterans Service Office to discuss the feasibility of establishing a
Stand Down in Ventura County. In 1993 after months of pre-event planning, Stand
Down was ready to go! A tent city was constructed at the California Army
National Guard Armory consisting of approximately 14 billeting tents. The tents
were used to house the veterans for three days, and service providers were all
inside the Armory. Each veteran, upon arriving at the gate, is registered and
credentialed by one of the staff volunteers and assigned to a tent, group, and
group leader. His/her personal belongings were stored in a secure storage area.
In addition to providers offering benefit counseling, job referrals, medical or
legal help; volunteers also conduct workshops on AIDS, PTSD, Agent Orange, and
VA medical benefits. Services provided to veterans include medical and dental
attention, legal representation, employment counseling, mental health services,
financial counseling, and access to the courts to assist with misdemeanor
warrants, food and clothing. During the three days, eight substantive meals are
provided offering a wide range of foods. The Salvation Army in Ventura provides
refreshments and snacks between meals. Entertainment and recreational activities
are also available. Live entertainment is provided during the day, encompassing
many talented musicians, comedians, and signers from the local area. Suffering
from lack of shelter, unemployment, physical and emotional disabilities, and
lack of food, the homeless veteran often feels completely isolated from
mainstream society and unable to break out of the self-perpetuating cycle of
homelessness. It is estimated that between 34%-40% of those homeless are
veterans, and 60% of those are Vietnam-era veterans.
The "Stand Down" concept is all about Americans helping Americans. As in past
years, we are looking for volunteers to help out during stand down. Some of the
duties include set up, clean up, cooking, preparing meals, serving meals,
distributing clothing, tent leaders and just listening to these folks. We are
also looking for the following donated items:
This continues to be a great opportunity to give back to our community and help out our
homeless veterans. If you are interested in a volunteering for this event in the
future, please contact Chief Modesto Quijano at 805 986-7996 or e-mail
at modesto.quijano@ang.af.mil
7/18 - Wife of Wing Member named
Air Force Spouse of the Year
7/18/2011 - VENTURA,
Calif. (AFNS) -- The wife of a California Air National Guard pilot and
mother of three has been named the Air Force Spouse of the Year by Military
Spouse Magazine and Armed Forces Insurance.
Megan Glynn, the wife of Maj. Matt Glynn, who is assigned to the 146th Airlift
Wing at Channel Islands ANG Station near Oxnard, Calif., was selected for the
honor through an online vote by the magazine's readers. She was nominated by two
friends she was assigned with in Germany for her work as a childbirth skills
teacher, and as a doula who provides nonmedical support before, during and after
childbirth. Megan was present for the birth of one of the nominator's children.
View article
7/10 - Alumni met and the Channel Islands Cafe for the summer meeting and received updates on the Wing, MAFFS2 briefings and more.
7/7 - Hollywood Looks at
the Air Guard, Michelle Obama wants to see
more stories of military families on TV and in movies, so on June 13, 2011, she
came to Hollywood to do something about it. The First Lady met with members of
the writers, producers, directors and actors unions to discuss Joining Forces,
an initiative aimed at increasing public consciousness and support of military
families. She pleaded with the entertainment industry to bring the story of
military families to the big and small screens.
Capt. Kelly Smith, a pilot with the 146th Airlift Wing at Channel Islands Air
National Guard Station, was invited to the event as a representative of the
military who, like so many people in the armed forces, has a fascinating
real-life story.
view full
story
7/6 - MAFFS update, Arizona
and New Mexico, Texas wildfires, and history-making
international firefighting in Mexico splashed the headlines in April, followed
by the largest fires in Arizona's history, burning more than half a million
acres. Now the wildfires have fled over borders into Colorado and New Mexico,
and are ripping across forested lands, threatening homes and significant
structures like the Los Alamos National Laboratory-- where the first atomic bomb
was built and where the world's most dangerous weapons are made today. The
California Air National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing has been fighting fires
alongside other MAFFS units from around the country since early Spring of this
year, and the wing's C130Js were among the first tankers on-scene for the
rapidly growing Los Conchas fire which started June 26.
view details
June 2011
6/28 - Wing responds
to New Mexico wildfires. The California Air National Guard's 146th
Airlift Wing is now fighting fires in New Mexico, and the wing's C130Js were
among the first tankers on-scene for the rapidly growing Los Conchas fire which
started Sunday.
"The National Guard's MAFFS C130s were the first tankers to get to the Los
Conchas fire just outside of Los Alamos, New Mexico," said Lt. Col. Bryan Allen,
one of the MAFFS pilots who flew the fires. "The fire is getting a lot of
national attention and is growing in size at an alarming rate. We were glad to
be here to help."
view
full article...
6/28 - Wing responds
to Arizona wildfires. Today Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin,
Adjutant General for the California National Guard, approved the deployment of
two C-130J Hercules aircraft and 35 personnel from the 146th Airlift Wing to
support the U.S. Forest Service with firefighting efforts in Arizona.
The Wallow wildfire in Eastern Arizona has grown to become the largest in the
state's history, prompting federal authorities to request help from the
California Air National Guard.
view
full article
May 2011
5/12 - 146th Airlift Wing helps fight fires in Texas, click here to view article by Anthony Plascencia, VCStar.com
April 2011
4/25 - 146AW Remains Ready for firefighting mission -
The 146th
Airlift Wing continues to remain on duty in order to provide critical support
upon tasking from the United States Forest Service. About 40 Airmen are deployed
to Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, and have been supporting firefighting efforts
there since April 17, but for the last several days there have been no taskings
for aerial support.
According to officials from the United States Forest Service, tasking is
determined by the Incident Commander at the fire and is based on weather, work
and safety conditions. Air support is only requested when conditions are
favorable for an effective retardant drop.
more...
4/22 - Staff Sgt. Cullan Hooley plays bagpipes at the Capitol
Recently the
Band of the Air Force Reserve Bagpipe Band was invited to perform on the steps
of the capitol. Staff Sgt. Cullan Hooley, the 146th Airlift Wings's Terrorism
Liaison Officer, 146th Security Forces Squadron, is a member of this unique
group of talented musicians. Read on to hear the story as he tells it about this
once-in-a -lifetime opportunity.
"We
first flew to Warner Robbins Air Force Base for four days of uniform fitting,
equipment/instrument checks and rehearsals...and more rehearsals. This was the
first time we had all played together and we needed to meld into a cohesive unit
to play together as one. We all then flew to Andrews Air Force Base. There, we
rehearsed more, made our final preparations, and managed for a few hours to go
to the "Mall" and do a little sight-seeing.
more...
Recently the
Band of the Air Force Reserve Bagpipe Band was invited to perform on the steps
of the capitol. Staff Sgt. Cullan Hooley, the 146th Airlift Wings's Terrorism
Liaison Officer, 146th Security Forces Squadron, is a member of this unique
group of talented musicians. Read on to hear the story as he tells it about this
once-in-a -lifetime opportunity.
4/22 - 146AW takes on Texas Wildfires
The California
Air National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing deployed two C-130J Hercules aircraft
Sunday in response to the wildfires that are devastating areas of Southern
Texas. The 146th has been assisting with firefighting efforts throughout the
week alongside other National Guard and Reserve units.
These state-of the-art aircraft are equipped with a self-contained aerial
firefighting system known as the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems, or
MAFFS. These systems can discharge 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant in
less than five seconds, covering an area one-quarter of a mile long by 60 feet
wide. Once discharged, the aircraft can refill in less than 12 minutes.
more...
4/17 - The 562nd AF Band at the Toyota Grand Prix
TSgt Erin McPherson had the honor of singing the National Anthem for a huge crowd who came out to watch the Toyota Grand Prix. There were over 500,000 people in attendance and it was nationally televised! She did an awesome job and represented the USAF with the utmost professionalism, skill and enthusiasm! She even had a little fun meeting the Grand Marshal, Gordon Ramsey, the famous chef."
January 2011
146AW deploys to fight Israeli wildfires
California Air
National Guard fire-fighting assets from the 146th Airlift Wing were called upon
in the first week of December to assist with a wildfire burning out of control
in Israel. On Dec. 4 a C-130J equipped with MAFFS 2, (modular airborne fire
fighting systems), one of the world's newest and most effective technologies in
firefighting, departed for Israel along with a C130H from Colorado Springs' Air
Force Reserve Base.
The 146th scrambled together more than XX Airmen as news of the worst fire in
Israel's history went global, killing more than 44 and injuring 17 in less than
four days before the fire was contained.
more...
June 2010
The Alumni was invited to have lunch at the Channel Islands
Cafe' on Sunday
of the June UTA.
During the lunch members were briefed
by personnel on recent deployments.
April 2010
Alumni supports the Wing's
Wingman Day/Earth Day Events
February 2010
State Outstanding Airmen of the Year announced for 2009
 |
|
|
Winners of the Outstanding Airman of the Year for the
146th Airlift Wing stand with the Command Chief and the Wing Commander
at the Airman of the Year Banquet in Sacramento, Calif. Jan 16. From
left to right, Chief Master Sgt. Rick Onsgard, Senior Master Sgt.
Christopher Fitts, Senior Master Sgt. Bob Taylor, Staff Sgt. Casie Webb
and Col. Paul Hargrove. |
Base Happenin's Newsletters
February 2010
December 2009
September 2009
May
2009 August
2008
Col Paul Hargrove, Wing Commander
Col Marilyn Rios, Vice Commander
CCM Rick Onsgard, Wing Command Chief
Col Tom Bakos, Maintenance Group Commander
Col Lou Danner, Mission Support Group Commander
Lt Col Greg Jones, Operations Group Commander
(As of 02/01/09)
August 2009
Chief Dennis Goff and SMSgt Al Bice invited the Alumni to their retirement celebration on August 1st.
July 2009
The Wing invited the Alumni to attend Financial Management briefings on July 12th and 13th 2009.
Col John Hart's retirement
was celebrated on
11 July 2009 at the Channel Islands Cafe'
May 2009
Click here to view the Wing's "Base Happenin's" Newsletter for May
April 2009
Wing receives an overall Excellent rating during AMC ORI conducted March 29th through April 5th. The Wing partnered with the 166th AW Delaware ANG who served as the lead unit during the inspection.
January 2009
Command Chief Kanyr's Retirement Celebration held
January 10th, 2009.
In the News - 562d Air Force Band AF Times article
MSgts Frank Hernandez & Cary Verstynen set to retire in October
Click here to view the Wing's "Base Happenin's" Newsletter
July 2008
Special Announcement:
Subject: New 146th Airlift Wing Commander
Maj Gen Lucas recently announced his selection of Col Paul Hargrove, 146th
Operations Group Commander, as the new 146th Wing Commander. Col Hargrove is a
commercial pilot flying for United Airlines, and plans to take a military
furlough to assume the full-time position as wing commander. He joined the USAF
in 1985 and in 1986 became a T37 instructor at Laughlin AFB following
Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT). From 1990-1992, he flew the C-130H while
assigned to Dyess AFB.
He joined the 115th Airlift Squadron at Channel Islands ANGS on 7 Feb 1992. A
C-130 pilot with the 115th AS for 16 years, he is a skilled evaluator pilot and
MAFFS Instructor Pilot, holding the position of 115th AS Commander from March of
2003 to October 2007 when he assumed command of the 146th Ops Group. His
promotion to Colonel was effective 27 Jun 08. His appointment as Wing Commander
will take effect on 1 Aug. A formal change of command ceremony will be
held August UTA.
May 21st: Colonel Friedricks was laid to rest with full military honors at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills
May 9th: the Wing suffers the loss of it's Wing Commander, Colonel Steven Friedricks.
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October 2007 - The Wing celebrates the attainment another milestone. 300,000 mishap-free flying hours. Click here for info on this and other events at the Wing!
April-May 2007 AMC UCI - The Wing continues to rock receiving an overall Excellent rating !!!
January 2007: California ANG Airmen of the Year. The 146th hosted the State's Airmen of the Year ceremony at the Ronald Reagan Library on February 17th, 2007.
December 2006: A small ceremony was conducted to acknowledge the reality of a transition and the end of the "E" Model era (click here) at the Wing.
September 2006: The Alumni's long awaited Heritage Plaza was dedicated.