West Virginia Air National Guard
Encyclopedia
The West Virginia Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state
of West Virginia
. It is, along with the West Virginia Army National Guard
, an element of the West Virginia National Guard
. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force
, as well as of the state.
, and the 167th Airlift Wing based in Martinsburg
. Currently, the 167th is flying the C-5 Galaxy
and the 130th is flying the C-130 Hercules in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In addition, the 167th Wing took part in Operation Desert Shield. Both units are at present reporting to Air Mobility Command
.
167th Airlift Wing
Since the September 11 attacks 2001 on New York City and Washington, D.C., the unit has had members deployed to the four corners of the world in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. Unit members have received six Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts in support of these operations.
In December 2006, the 167th received its first C-5 Galaxy
, out of a total of 11 aircraft. At present, the runway at Shepherd Field in Martinsburg is being expanded and reinforced to accommodate the much larger and heavier Galaxy.
130th Airlift Wing
On 13 May 2005, the Department of Defense
released its Base Realignment and Closure, 2005
(BRAC) report, and the 130th Airlift Wing was one of the units slated to be eventually decommissioned. Its complement of eight C-130H aircraft would be realigned to Pope Air Force Base
, and its complement of expeditionary combat support (ECS) personnel to the 167th Airlift Wing.
Upon learning of this, several former commanders of the 130th Airlift Wing along with members of the local Kanawha County Commission and the Yeager Airport
Board of Directors formed the Keep 'Em Flying grassroots organization to try to prevent the unit from being decommissioned. Following an outpouring of community support, money was raised for newspaper ads and radio ads, and to hire analysts familiar with BRAC, all in an attempt to save the unit. On June 13, 2005, members of the BRAC commission came to Charleston to evaluate the base and talk to General Tackett, Governor Joe Manchin
, Senator Robert Byrd
, Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito
and Col. Bill Peters, Jr., former commander of the 130th and chair for Keep 'Em Flying.
Following this visit, and taking in all the information that was presented to them during that time, the BRAC commission voted unanimously, 9–0, to keep the unit intact.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. It is, along with the West Virginia Army National Guard
West Virginia Army National Guard
The West Virginia Army National Guard is the United States Army component of the West Virginia National Guard. It has 38 units and activities stationed in 22 counties throughout West Virginia and overseas. The WV ARNG currently has units supporting operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and...
, an element of the West Virginia National Guard
West Virginia National Guard
The West Virginia National Guard consists of the:*West Virginia Army National GuardTwo units of the West Virginia Army National Guard, the 150th Cavalry and the 201st Field Artillery, are among the nineteen Army National Guard units with campaign credit for the War of 1812.-External links:* *...
. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, as well as of the state.
Units
The West Virginia Air National Guard is composed of two Airlift units, the 130th Airlift Wing based in CharlestonCharleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
, and the 167th Airlift Wing based in Martinsburg
Martinsburg, West Virginia
Martinsburg is a city in the Eastern Panhandle region of West Virginia, United States. The city's population was 14,972 at the 2000 census; according to a 2009 Census Bureau estimate, Martinsburg's population was 17,117, making it the largest city in the Eastern Panhandle and the eighth largest...
. Currently, the 167th is flying the C-5 Galaxy
C-5 Galaxy
The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a large military transport aircraft built by Lockheed. It provides the United States Air Force with a heavy intercontinental-range strategic airlift capability, one that can carry outsize and oversize cargos, including all air-certifiable cargo. The Galaxy has many...
and the 130th is flying the C-130 Hercules in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In addition, the 167th Wing took part in Operation Desert Shield. Both units are at present reporting to Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
.
Leadership
- Adjutant General: Major General Allen E. Tackett
- Commander/Chief of Staff: Brigadier General Terry Butler
- Assistant Adjutant General for Air: Brigadier General Loda R. Moore
- State Command Chief: CMSgt Ronald D. Bowe
167th Airlift Wing167th Airlift WingThe United States Air Force's 167th Airlift Wing is a unit located at Shepherd Field, Martinsburg, West Virginia.-Beginnings:The West Virginia Air National Guard was officially federally recognized on March 7, 1947, as the 167th Fighter Squadron, based at Kanawha Airport in Charleston...
In December 2006, the 167th received its first C-5 Galaxy
C-5 Galaxy
The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a large military transport aircraft built by Lockheed. It provides the United States Air Force with a heavy intercontinental-range strategic airlift capability, one that can carry outsize and oversize cargos, including all air-certifiable cargo. The Galaxy has many...
, out of a total of 11 aircraft. At present, the runway at Shepherd Field in Martinsburg is being expanded and reinforced to accommodate the much larger and heavier Galaxy.
130th Airlift Wing130th Airlift WingThe United States Air Force's 130th Airlift Wing is an airlift unit located at Yeager Airport, Charleston, West Virginia.-Mission:Role Provide support for airlift missions at both the state and federal level-History:...
On 13 May 2005, the Department of DefenseUnited States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
released its Base Realignment and Closure, 2005
Base Realignment and Closure, 2005
The preliminary 2005 Base Realignment and Closure list was released by the United States Department of Defense on May 13, 2005. It is the fifth Base Realignment and Closure proposal generated since the process was created in 1988. It recommends closing 33 major United States military bases and...
(BRAC) report, and the 130th Airlift Wing was one of the units slated to be eventually decommissioned. Its complement of eight C-130H aircraft would be realigned to Pope Air Force Base
Pope Air Force Base
Pope Field is a United States Army facility located 12 miles northwest of the central business district of Fayetteville, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States.-Units:...
, and its complement of expeditionary combat support (ECS) personnel to the 167th Airlift Wing.
Upon learning of this, several former commanders of the 130th Airlift Wing along with members of the local Kanawha County Commission and the Yeager Airport
Yeager Airport
Yeager Airport is a public-use airport located three nautical miles east of the central business district of Charleston, a city in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States. It is owned by the Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority...
Board of Directors formed the Keep 'Em Flying grassroots organization to try to prevent the unit from being decommissioned. Following an outpouring of community support, money was raised for newspaper ads and radio ads, and to hire analysts familiar with BRAC, all in an attempt to save the unit. On June 13, 2005, members of the BRAC commission came to Charleston to evaluate the base and talk to General Tackett, Governor Joe Manchin
Joe Manchin
Joseph "Joe" Manchin III is the junior United States Senator representing West Virginia. Manchin, a Democrat, was Governor of West Virginia from 2005 to 2010...
, Senator Robert Byrd
Robert Byrd
Robert Carlyle Byrd was a United States Senator from West Virginia. A member of the Democratic Party, Byrd served as a U.S. Representative from 1953 until 1959 and as a U.S. Senator from 1959 to 2010...
, Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito
Shelley Moore Capito
Shelley Moore Capito is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. She is a member of the Republican Party...
and Col. Bill Peters, Jr., former commander of the 130th and chair for Keep 'Em Flying.
Following this visit, and taking in all the information that was presented to them during that time, the BRAC commission voted unanimously, 9–0, to keep the unit intact.