Page 6 - March ARB Beacon 6-19-15

6 June 19, 2015 www.aerotechnews.com/marcharb
Facebook.com/TeamMarch
UG5HFRQQDLVVDQFH:LQJ¶VZLOG¿UHHIIRUWVKRQRUHG

by Staff Sgt. Tiffany Lindemann set. “It is the future, and it is appreciated Col. Keith Ward, 163rd Reconnaissance Wing vice commander, California Air
452 AMW public affairs by those of us who have to put ourselves National Guard, March Air Reserve Base, accepts the Excellence in Aviation
and others in harm’s way.” Awards at the Flight Test Historical Foundation’s annual awards banquet in Los
The Air National Guard’s 163rd Re- Angeles, June 13, 2015, where he was joined by Brig. Gen. Carl E. Schaefer,
connaissance Wing, March Air Reserve The Predator was used to capture up- commander, 412th Test Wing, Edwards Air Force Base. Lisa Gray, FTHF chair-
Base, was honored by the Flight Test to-the-minute video of forest hotspots, woman, presented the award to recognize the wing for its efforts in helping CAL
Historical Foundation (FTHF) at the helping firefighters know where to con- FIRE battle the 2013 “Rim Fire” by remotely piloting an MQ-1 Predator to capture
foundation’s 5th annual Excellence in centrate their efforts. Actual footage UHDOWLPHIRRWDJHRIWKH¿UH
Aviation Awards banquet June 13, in gathered from the Predator was shown
Los Angeles. at the banquet so the audience could see State Governor’s control to be deployed by those of us who have to put ourselves
the 163rd’s contributions and accom- to battle fires, said Angella Raisian, an and others in harm’s way.”
The 163 RW made history when its plishments first-hand. by Staff Sgt. Tif- FTHF board member.
members remotely piloted the MQ-1 fany Lindemann The Predator was used to capture up-
Predator to provide civil support for During an open forum for questions, to-the-minute video of forest hotspots,
CAL FIRE to battle the “Rim Fire” 452 AMW public affairs Robert Baird, CAL FIRE fire marshall , helping firefighters know where to con-
surrounding Yosemite National Park in The Air National Guard’s 163rd Re- expressed his gratitude for the 163rd team. centrate their efforts. Actual footage
2013, where more than 250,000 acres connaissance Wing,March Air Reserve gathered from the Predator was shown
were burned. Base, was honored by the Flight Test “The support the 163rd provided is at the banquet so the audience could see
Historical Foundation (FTHF) at the groundbreaking,” Baird said, regarding the 163rd’s contributions and accom-
Colonel Keith Ward, 163 RW vice foundation’s 5th annual Excellence in the use of the Predator to battle fires and plishments first-hand.
commander, accepted the honor on be- Aviation Awards banquet June 13, in provide civil support with a combat as-
half of the wing. Los Angeles. set. “It is the future, and it is appreciated
The 163 RW made history when its
“This is a great night,” said Ward. members remotely piloted the MQ-1
“The 163rd was able do our job, and it Predator to provide civil support for
wasn’t (just) me. It was everyone.” CAL FIRE to battle the “Rim Fire”
surrounding Yosemite National Park in
For the first time in the nation’s histo- 2013, where more than 250,000 acres
ry, a combat asset was transferred to the were burned.
State Governor’s control to be deployed Colonel Keith Ward, 163 RW vice
to battle fires, said Angella Raisian, an commander, accepted the honor on be-
FTHF board member. half of the wing.
“This is a great night,” said Ward.
During an open forum for questions, “The 163rd was able do our job, and it
Robert Baird, CAL FIRE fire marshall, wasn’t (just) me. It was everyone.”
expressed his gratitude for the 163rd team. For the first time in the nation’s histo-
ry, a combat asset was transferred to the
“The support the 163rd provided is
groundbreaking,” Baird said, regarding
the use of the Predator to battle fires and
provide civil support with a combat as-

Spelunking at 165 feet below

Courtesy photo

Senior Airman Kenneth Moore, 452nd Aerospace Medicine Squad-
ron, shows no sign of being claustrophobic at 165 feet below the
cavern surface during a spelunking (cave exploration) trip June 12-
14 at Moaning Caverns in northern California, sponsored by March
2XWGRRU5HFUHDWLRQ0RRUHVDLGLWZDVKLV¿UVWWLPHGRLQJDQ\WKLQJ
like this and that “it was a great time with great people.”