Utah Air National Guard

Last updated
Utah Air National Guard
191st Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 landing.jpg
A KC-135 of the 191st Air Refueling Squadron landing at Wright Air National Guard Base. The 191st ARS is the oldest unit in the Utah Air National Guard, having over 70 years of service to the state and nation.
Active18 November 1946 – Present
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
AllegianceFlag of Utah.svg  Utah
Branch US-AirNationalGuard-2007Emblem.svg   Air National Guard
Type state militia, military reserve force
Role"To meet state and federal mission responsibilities."
Part ofUtah Department of Military Affairs
Utah National Guard
United States National Guard Bureau
Garrison/HQ Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base
Nickname(s)Mountain West Militia
Commanders
Federal President Joe Biden
State Governor Spencer Cox
The Adjutant GeneralMaj Gen Daniel D. Boyack
Insignia
Utah Air National Guard emblem Utah ANG headquarters emblem.PNG
Aircraft flown
Tanker KC-135 Stratotanker

The Utah Air National Guard (UT ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Utah, United States. It's a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Utah Army National Guard an element of the Utah National Guard of the larger United States National Guard Bureau.

Contents

As state militia units, the units in the Utah Air National Guard are not in the normal United States Air Force chain of command. They are under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Utah through the office of the Utah Adjutant General unless they are federalized by order of the President of the United States. The Utah Air National Guard is headquartered in Salt Lake City. Maj Gen Daniel D. Boyack is the Commander for both the Utah Army and Air National Guard. [1]

Overview

Under the "Total Force" concept, Utah Air National Guard units are considered to be Air Reserve Components (ARC) of the United States Air Force (USAF). Utah ANG units are trained and equipped by the Air Force and are operationally gained by a Major Command of the USAF if federalized. In addition, the Utah Air National Guard forces are assigned to Air Expeditionary Forces and are subject to deployment tasking orders along with their active duty and Air Force Reserve counterparts in their assigned cycle deployment window.

Along with their federal reserve obligations, as state militia units the elements of the Utah ANG are subject to being activated by order of the Governor to provide protection of life and property, and preserve peace, order and public safety. State missions include disaster relief in times of earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and forest fires, search and rescue, protection of vital public services, and support to civil defense.

The Utah Air National Guard is located on approximately 140 acres in the northeast corner of the Salt Lake City International Airport. As of 2007 over 1,450 men and women serve in the Utah Air National Guard. [2]

Components

The Utah Air National Guard consists of the following major unit:

Established 18 November 1946 (as: 191st Fighter Squadron); operates: KC-135R Stratotanker
Stationed at: Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base, Utah
Gained by: Air Mobility Command
The primary mission of the 151st Wing is to provide air refueling support to major commands of the United States Air Force, as well as other U.S. military forces and the military forces of allied nations. Additionally, the unit can support airlift missions. The unit is also tasked with supporting the nuclear strike missions of the Single Integrated Operational Plan.


Support Unit Functions and Capabilities:

Stationed at: Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base, Utah
The mission of the 109th is to operate and maintain radar and communication equipment necessary to manage and direct defensive and offensive air and battle management activities as a combat ready, integrated element of the Ground Theater Air Control System. They employ and administer reliable and secure command and control, data link, and voice communication networks necessary to meet worldwide contingency requirements. [3]
Stationed at: Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base, Utah
The 130th provides worldwide engineering, installation and relocation of command, control, communications, computers and intelligence systems. [3]
Stationed at: Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base, Utah
This unit provides intelligence support necessary to plan, conduct, control and coordinate air operations.

History

On 24 May 1946, the United States Army Air Forces, in response to dramatic postwar military budget cuts imposed by President Harry S. Truman, allocated inactive unit designations to the National Guard Bureau for the formation of an Air Force National Guard. These unit designations were allotted and transferred to various State National Guard bureaus to provide them unit designations to re-establish them as Air National Guard units. [5]

F-51D Mustangs of the Nevada, California and Utah Air National Guards fly in formation, 1948. The 191st Fighter Squadron was assigned to the CA ANG 61st Fighter Wing during the postwar years. 144th Fighter Group - 3 F-51 flight.jpg
F-51D Mustangs of the Nevada, California and Utah Air National Guards fly in formation, 1948. The 191st Fighter Squadron was assigned to the CA ANG 61st Fighter Wing during the postwar years.

The Utah Air National Guard was founded on 18 November 1946 with the federal recognition of the 191st Fighter Squadron at Salt Lake City Municipal Airport. It was equipped with F-51D Mustangs and its mission was the air defense of the state. 18 September 1947, however, is considered the Utah Air National Guard's official birth concurrent with the establishment of the United States Air Force as a separate branch of the United States military under the National Security Act [5]

Members of the Utah ANG were called to serve 21 months during the Korean War. Flying F-51D Mustang fighter aircraft, 10 pilots flew over 100 missions. Two Utah ANG pilots were killed in this conflict. One Utah Air National Guard pilot, Capt. Cliff Jolley, flying a North American F-86 Sabre, shot down seven soviet-made MiG-15 aircraft and became the first Air Guard "Ace" of the Korean War. During the Vietnam War, Utah Air Guard crews flew 6,600 hours of support missions for US forces. On 1 July 1958, the 191st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was authorized to expand to a group level, and the 151st Fighter-Interceptor Group was established by the National Guard Bureau.

In 1990–91, Utah Air National Guard crews were some of the first to volunteer to support Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm during the 1991 Gulf War. 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 also supported US drug interdiction activities and have provided air refueling for tactical and transportation aircraft supporting military activities involving Bosnia and Iraq. The Utah Air National Guard has participated in several Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) missions, most recently at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam in the summer of 2007.

Since 11 September 2001, over 3,300 Utah Air National Guard members have been activated and deployed for worldwide duty to include Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In Utah, local communities can have benefits from the Utah Air National Guard. Activities included "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 Hurricane Rita and airlifted evacuees to safety in September 2005.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air National Guard</span> Air warfare component of the United States National Guard

The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia of each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It, along with the Army National Guard component of each state, district, commonwealth or territory, makes up the National Guard of each region as applicable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illinois Air National Guard</span> Unit of the US Air National Guard for the State of Illinois

The Illinois Air National Guard is the aerial militia of the State of Illinois, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Illinois Army National Guard, an element of the Illinois National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alabama Air National Guard</span> Unit of the United States Air National Guard for the State of Alabama

The Alabama Air National Guard (AL ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Alabama, United States of America. It is, along with the Alabama Army National Guard, an element of the Alabama National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nebraska Air National Guard</span> Military unit

The Nebraska Air National Guard (NE ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Nebraska, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Nebraska Army National Guard, an element of the Nebraska National Guard of the larger United States National Guard Bureau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Jersey Air National Guard</span> Military unit

The New Jersey Air National Guard (NJ ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of New Jersey, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the New Jersey Army National Guard, an element of the New Jersey National Guard of the larger United States National Guard Bureau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arizona Air National Guard</span> Military unit

The Arizona Air National Guard (AZ ANG) is the aerial militia of the state of Arizona, United States of America. It is, along with the Arizona Army National Guard, an element of the Arizona National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee Air National Guard</span> Military unit

The Tennessee Air National Guard is the aerial militia of the State of Tennessee, United States of America. It is, along with the Tennessee Army National Guard an element of the Tennessee National Guard of the larger United States National Guard Bureau and a reserve of the United States Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">151st Wing</span> Military unit

The 151st Wing is a unit of the Utah Air National Guard, stationed at Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base, Utah. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wisconsin Air National Guard</span> Military unit

The Wisconsin Air National Guard (WI ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Wisconsin, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Wisconsin Army National Guard, an element of the Wisconsin National Guard, National Guard and United States National Guard Bureau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iowa Air National Guard</span> Military unit

The Iowa Air National Guard (IA ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Iowa, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Iowa Army National Guard, an element of the Iowa National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">144th Fighter Wing</span> Unit of the California Air National Guard

The 144th Fighter Wing is a unit of the California Air National Guard, stationed at Fresno Air National Guard Base, California. As part of the Air Reserve Component of the United States Air Force, the wing is operationally gained by the Air Combat Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Air National Guard</span> Military unit

The Oklahoma Air National Guard (OK ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Oklahoma, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Oklahoma Army National Guard an element of the Oklahoma National Guard of the larger United States National Guard Bureau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">134th Air Refueling Wing</span> Military unit

The 134th Air Refueling Wing is a unit of the Tennessee Air National Guard, stationed at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Knoxville, Tennessee. If activated for federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command. The 134th Air Refueling Wing's KC-135 mission is to provide air refueling and airlift, as directed by the Secretary of Defense. It has been stationed at McGhee Tyson Airport since December 1957, though the ANG facility at the airport has been redesignated several times. Their radio callsign is "Soda"

<span class="mw-page-title-main">171st Air Refueling Wing</span> Military unit

The 171st Air Refueling Wing is a unit of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, located at Pittsburgh International Airport in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Hampshire Air National Guard</span> Military unit

The New Hampshire Air National Guard (NH ANG) is the aerial militia of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the New Hampshire Army National Guard, an element of the New Hampshire National Guard of the much larger United States National Guard Bureau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maine Air National Guard</span> Military unit

The Maine Air National Guard (ME ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Maine, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Maine Army National Guard, an element of the Maine National Guard of the much larger United States National Guard Bureau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kansas Air National Guard</span> Military unit

The Kansas Air National Guard (KS ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Kansas, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Kansas Army National Guard, an element of the Kansas National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mississippi Air National Guard</span> Military unit

The Mississippi Air National Guard, commonly known as the Mississippi Air Guard, is the aerial militia of the State of Mississippi, United States of America. It is a reserve of the United States Air Force and along with the Mississippi Army National Guard, an element of the Mississippi National Guard of the much larger United States National Guard Bureau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">151st Air Refueling Squadron</span> Military unit

The 151st Air Refueling Squadron is a unit of the Tennessee Air National Guard 134th Air Refueling Wing located at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Knoxville, Tennessee. The 151st is equipped with the KC-135R Stratotanker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">191st Air Refueling Squadron</span> Military unit

The 191st Air Refueling Squadron is a unit of the Utah Air National Guard 151st Air Refueling Wing located at Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base, Utah. The 191st is equipped with the KC-135R Stratotanker.

References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  1. ↑ "National Guard Biography". www.ut.ng.mil.
  2. ↑ "Factsheets : UTAH AIR NATIONAL GUARD". Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2014-10-03.
  3. 1 2 "151st Air Refueling Wing factsheet". Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2014-10-03.
  4. ↑ "Utah Air Guard establishes new intel unit". 151st Air Refueling Wing.
  5. 1 2 "Rosenfeld, Susan and Gross, Charles J (2007), Air National Guard at 60: A History. Air National Guard history program AFD-080527-040" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-02-13. Retrieved 2012-10-16.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.