Page 1 - March ARB Beacon 7-17-15

Vol. 80, No. 28
NEWS BRIEFS
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
VOLUNTEERS
Special Olympics USA will
be holding a four-day Pre-
World Games Training Camp
in Riverside, from July 21-24,
and is in need of volunteers to
support the team. To volunteer,
email Dan Epstein at sports@
specialolympichawaii.org.
MILITARY DENTIST
FOR UTAS
The 452nd Aerospace Med-
icine Squadron will provide a
military dentist available each
Friday prior to the A and B
UTAs through the September
joint UTA. The dentist’s hours
are 8 – 11 a.m. and 1 – 3 p.m.
If you or anyone in your squad-
ron needs a military dental
examination, please go to the
dental clinic during the hour of
operation. Individuals must be
on military status to be seen.
No appointments accepted.
Walk-ins will be seen on a first
come, first served basis.
TEN STEPS TO
FEDERAL JOB
WORKSHOP
The March Airman and
Family Readiness Center is
holding a Ten Steps to a Fed-
eral Job Workshop on Friday,
July 17, 8 a.m. – noon in the
452nd Mission Support Group
Conference Room, Bldg. 2313,
1261 Graeber Street. Call 951-
655-5350 for more informa-
tion and to register.
BONANZA BINGO AT
CLUB
The Hap Arnold Club in-
vites you to play Bingo for
prizes. Visit the cashier’s cage name change reflects the unit’s
or a bartender at the club or
call 951-655-4920 for details.
Winning numbers for the week
of July 13-17 are B4, I17, N41,
G58, O71. (Winning numbers
See BRIEFS page 3
March Air Reserve Base, California
163rd Attack Wing stands up at March Field
by Master Sgt. Julie Avey
163 ATKW public affairs
The California Air National
Guard’s Moreno Valley-based
163rd Reconnaissance Wing has
become the 163rd Attack Wing
(ATKW). The wing received the
official orders to re-designate
its name on July 1, 2015, by the
order of the Secretary of the Air
Force. The name change was
made formal during a ceremony
at March Air Reserve Base, Sat-
urday, July 11, 2015.
“Thank you for all your hard
work and dedication to both the
mission and the people of the
163rd Attack Wing,” said Col.
Dana Hessheimer, wing com-
mander. “I am proud to serve
with each and every one of you.”
Members of the 163 ATKW
took to the flight line and stood
proudly in military formation
next to their wingmen as the his-
torical orders were announced.
The unfurling of the new wing
flag took place for all to see as a including 10 troops in contact
part of the momentous occasion.
Hessheimer took a moment to
share the history of the wing’s
previous missions to remind the
wing members of their heritage.
“Our wing members are part
of the unit’s history,” said Hes-
sheimer. “They are experienced
and dedicated to our United
States Air Force mission.”
“Attack” is the term the active
duty Air Force has adopted for its
units that fly the MQ-9 Reaper.
The 163rd converted aircraft, fly-
ing its first MQ-9 flight in August
2014. The wing converted from
the remotely piloted MQ-1 Pred-
ator to the MQ-9 Reaper and the
switch in operating the MQ-9 re-
motely piloted aircraft.
The 163rd is a proven choice
supporting overseas, operating
remotely piloted aircraft since
August of 2006 when they con-
verted from an Air Refueling
Friday, July 17, 2015
U.S. Air National Guard photo/Senior Airman Michael Quiboloy
Col. Dana Hessheimer, commander, 163rd Attack Wing, California Air National Guard, March Air
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Wing to the Reconnaissance authorities in emergency disas- 1, 2015 after eight years, 230
Wing. In only 19 months the ter relief efforts during the third days, nine hours and 30 minutes
wing reached 500,000 flying largest fire in California’s history, of consecutive flights without a
hours with 85 percent being the Rim Fire. The wing provided break supporting our warfight-
combat hours, 31 CAPS and more than 80 hours of real-time, ers overseas. The wing flew
4,400 weekly combat hours on full motion video in support of 1,070 sorties totaling 6,240.5
mission with the MQ-1 Predator. CAL FIRE operations. hours in support of training.
Along with the daily missions
The wing was recent- The new163 ATKW started overseas, these Airmen sup-
ly awarded two significant its legacy with its predecessor’s ported civil authorities during
awards. First is the Winston P. from the 411th Fighter Squad- fires and floods stateside, con-
Wilson trophy that is presented ron, consisting of personnel ducted search and rescue exer-
to the most outstanding Air from the 373rd Fighter Group. cises and simultaneously sup-
National Guard Unit equipped The 411 FS sailed from New ported their flying training unit
with fighter or reconnaissance York aboard the “HMS Duch- school house.
aircraft. From January 1 to ess of Bedford” to Woodchurch,
December 31, 2014, the wing Kent, England, to prepare for “The added value of the en-
flew 658 sorties and more than combat missions during WWII. hanced RPA will expand the
10,900 combat flying hours The 411th supported General Air National Guard’s support in
Patton’s Third Army and played its search and rescue, firefight-
and 17 air-to-surface engage- an integral part in the famous ing, and other capabilities,”
ments in support of Operation “Battle of the Bulge” by flying said Col. Dana Hessheimer,
Enduring Freedom. attack after attack, causing the commander of the 163d Attack
Germans to retreat and eventu- Wing. “The dedicated Airmen
The wing was also presented ally surrender in May 1945. of the 163d Wing team are seiz-
the Excellence in Aviation Award ing the future and are remain-
from the Flight Test Historical The unit launched its last ing steadfast on duty.”
Foundation for supporting civil flight of MQ-1 aircraft on April