Page 2 - March ARB Beacon 11-20-15

2 November 20, 2015
BEACON
THE
Volume 80, Number 46
452 AMW Public Affairs
14560 2nd Street, Bldg. 2640
March ARB, CA 92518-1852
DPZSDZRUNÀRZ#XVDIPLO ity Wing public affairs staff, will introduce
fax: 951-655-7070
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COMMANDER
Col. Russell Muncy
PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER
Capt. Perry Covington
EDITOR
Ms. Linda Welz
452 AMW EDITORIAL STAFF
Senior Master Sgt. David Smith
Master Sgt. Megan Crusher
Staff Sgt. Heather Cozad Staley
Senior Airman Russell McMillan
Senior Airman Joseph Dangidang
Senior Airman Kevin Mitterholzer
Senior Airman Callie McNary
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Team March 101: 163rd Attack Wing
by 163 ATKW and 452 AMW bilized with it when it’s activated. Active- ton Air Force Base, California. Initially,
public affairs staff duty members serve under the command the unit was comprised of 12 officers and
authority of the state unless mobilized for 28 Airmen, but no aircraft. In December
(This series, from the 452nd Air Mobil- federal duty. The majority of the wing’s 1946, the unit received two Stinson L-5G
personnel are drill status guardsmen, re- and two T-6 Texan trainers. Afterward, as
you to the many mission partners on and porting for Unit Training Assemblies ev- the unit began to grow, it received a C-47
around March Air Reserve Base.) ery month to maintain their career-specific Dakota and a B-26 Invader, until the arrival
knowledge and skills. of the P-51D Mustang in February 1947.
The 163rd Attack Wing is one of five
California Air National Guard units, and “The assortment of skill sets that our peo- After 21 months in active service, 15
is headquartered here, making them one ple bring from their civilian careers is para- of which were spent overseas, the 196th
of the largest mission partners in the Team mount in the success of our wing,” said Capt. Fighter Squadron returned to the United
March family. Known as the ‘Grizzlies,’ the Jennifer Covington, officer-in-charge, 163rd States and resumed state-controlled Air
950-member unit conducts flight operations Sustainment Services Flight. “That type of National Guard status. The unit was moved
with the MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aer- experience is vital to what we do here.” to Ontario International Airport, Califor-
ial (RPA) system. The wing has both federal nia, and transitioned to the F-51 Mustang
and state missions, resulting in an operation The 163rd Attack Wing’s primary war- before transitioning in 1953 to the F-86
that is diverse and challenging. time mission is to provide commanders Sabre. Years later, in 1982, another move
and war fighters, who are engaged in com- brought the wing to March Field where
The 163 ATKW’s federal mission in- bat operations around the world, with real- they assumed a tactical fighter role flying
cludes providing rapid combat support in time intelligence, surveillance and strike the F-4C and later the F-4E.
times of war, as well as providing assis- support against fixed and perishable tar-
tance during national emergencies. The gets determined to be of a time-sensitive On Nov. 28, 2006, the wing became the
wing’s wartime mission also includes nature. Using the Reaper, the wing is able first Air National Guard unit to employ the
maintaining support and combat-ready to provide clear battlefield assessments and MQ-1 Predator RPA. Fast forward to July,
units assigned to most Air Force major responsive firepower where and when com- 2015, the Wing was re-designated once
and combatant commands to carry out manders need it. again, to the 163rd Attack Wing, making
missions compatible with training, mo- it one of the first Air National Guard units
bilization readiness, humanitarian and Steeped in a rich military history, the to receive the MQ-9 Reaper RPA. Armed
wing traces its roots to the Army Air Corps’ with a new mission and a new aircraft, the
411th Fighter Squadron during World War 163 ATKW is once again poised to distin-
When the 163 ATKW is not mobilized or II. Originally the 196th Fighter Squadron guish itself as one of the Air Force’s pre-
under federal control, it reports to the Cali- the unit was federally recognized on Nov. miere flying units.
fornia governor. The wing is supervised by 9, 1946 and was located at the former Nor-
the adjutant general of the state or territory.
Under state law, the wing pro-
vides protection of life, prop-
erty and preserves peace, order
sions are accomplished through
emergency relief support dur-
ing natural disasters such as
floods, earthquakes and forest
fires; search and rescue opera-
tions; support to civil defense
authorities; and maintenance of
vital public services.
“We have to stay flexible at
all times. Our mission is two-
fold, federal and state,” said
Capt. Cody Lange, officer-in-
charge, 163rd Force Support
Squadron. “At any given mo-
ment we can be deployed over-
seas to support wartime efforts
or we can be asked to assist in
support efforts during a natu-
state of California.”
The 163rd Attack Wing’s
units are staffed primarily by
dual-status military technician
and guardsmen on active duty,
agement, administration and
maintenance of the wing’s vari-
ous functions. Its technicians
train with the unit and are mo-