Ohio National Guard marks successful 2015, looks ahead to future

COLUMBUS, OH, UNITED STATES

01.04.2016

Courtesy Story

Ohio National Guard Public Affairs

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio National Guard celebrated several significant achievements in 2015, made possible by its combined 16,000-member full-time and traditional work force of talented and dedicated professionals. In the past year, the Ohio National Guard was recognized with several individual and organizational-level awards in areas including readiness, performance excellence and innovation.

“The Ohio National Guard maintains its vision to be the first choice and a trusted team of Soldiers, Airmen and civilians serving the local communities, the state of Ohio and the nation through agility, collaboration and leadership,” said Maj. Gen. Mark E. Bartman, Ohio adjutant general.

The adjutant general is a member of the governor’s cabinet and is responsible for the command of the Ohio Army National Guard (the fifth-largest in the U.S. at 11,500 Soldiers), Ohio Air National Guard (the second-largest in the U.S. at 4,700 Airmen), Ohio Military Reserve and Ohio Naval Militia.

“The Ohio National Guard is proud of its accomplishments of the past year, but continues to look forward, to ensure it remains relevant and ready to support however needed.” Bartman said. “Through their outstanding achievements, members of the Ohio National Guard demonstrate their commitment to excellence and continuous drive to improve the organization, which increases our capability to serve.”

A look back at some of the Ohio National Guard’s major achievements of the past year:

• State Partnership Program conducts 27 joint events with partnered nations. The State Partnership Program is part of the National Guard Bureau effort to build relationships with military-to-military engagements in support of defense security goals and leverage National Guard capabilities to facilitate broader interagency activities that span military, government, economic and social spheres. The Ohio National Guard has partnered with Hungary since 1993 and the Republic of Serbia since 2007, developing relationships that last a lifetime. A key program highlight this year was a bilateral joint mechanized infantry training exercise between Hungary

and the Republic of Serbia, allowing their soldiers to train alongside one another to develop their cross-cultural and military skills.

• Ohio ranks 1st in nation in Soldier personnel readiness. This year, the Army National Guard Director’s Personnel Readiness Report ranked the Ohio Army National Guard (OHARNG) No. 1 in overall personnel readiness (ability to accomplish assigned missions), out of 54 states and territories. With Ohio’s high level of readiness and ability to meet National Guard Bureau-authorized personnel end strength numbers, the OHARNG is well-positioned to continue providing Soldiers for missions overseas in defense of the nation and at home in support of civil authorities.

• Army Communities of Excellence winner. In May, the Ohio Army National Guard was selected by the Department of the Army as the 2015 Army Communities of excellence Overall Winner, Army National Guard category. The award recognizes the organization’s ongoing efforts in delivering value, improving performance and sharing innovation. This year’s award marks the fifth time Ohio has won the competition, in addition to 2003-04, 2006 and 2009.

• Ohio National Guard selected to be part of first Cyber Protection Team. The 39-member Cyber Protection Team (CPT) will consist of Soldiers from Ohio, Indiana and Michigan, and will be stood up in 2016. The Ohio National Guard is uniquely postured to support the CPT mission, having a large number of Soldiers who work within the information technology and academic sectors, and who offer expertise and competencies in cutting-edge cyber defense policies, tactics and techniques. Coupled with the Ohio National Guard Computer Network Defense Team (CND-T), the new CPT will greatly enhance the organization’s capability to combat the cyber challenges of the future.

• 179th Airlift Wing completes conversion to C-130H aircraft. The Ohio Air National Guard’s (OHANG) 179th Airlift Wing received the last of eight aircraft this year, completing its conversion from the C-27J Spartan to the larger C-130H Hercules, in advance of the wing deploying overseas in 2016. Wing aircraft conversions generally take three to five years and encompass a multitude of factors including personnel retraining. The 179th AW accomplished this conversion within the minimal three-year window while adding hundreds of new Airmen to the wing. This conversion brings significant airlift capabilities to the OHANG, including the ability to support civil authorities during domestic emergencies in the United States.

• Nearly all Ohio Air Guard units earn Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards. Eight out of the 10 Ohio Air National Guard units received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for exceptionally meritorious service in 2015. This honor is bestowed by the Secretary of the Air Force to numbered units that have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service or outstanding achievement, of international or national significance or in a combat zone, which clearly sets the unit above and apart from similar units. The units earning awards: 121st Air Refueling Wing, Columbus; 178th Wing, Springfield; 180th Fighter Wing, Toledo; 200th RED HORSE (Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron

Engineer) Squadron, Port Clinton and Mansfield; 251st Cyber Engineering Installation Group, Springfield; 164th Weather Flight, Columbus; 269th Combat Communication Squadron, Springfield; and 220th Engineering Installation Squadron, Zanesville.

• Three wings earn high marks during most recent inspections. The 180th Fighter Wing, 121st Air Refueling Wing and the 178th Wing earned “Effective” ratings under the Air Force’s new inspection system, called the Unit Effectiveness Inspection (UEI), which is a continual process of performance evaluation focusing on managing resources, personnel leadership, unit improvement and mission execution.

• Date Taken: 01.04.2016
• Date Posted: 01.04.2016 14:07
• Story ID: 185613
• Location: COLUMBUS, OH, US