Photo By Bryan Myhr | The Virginia National Guard’s 192nd Fighter Wing was redesignated as the 192nd Wing...... read more read more
JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. -- The Virginia Air National Guard’s 192nd Fighter Wing redesignates as the 192nd Wing at a ceremony held Oct. 13, 2018, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. With 12 distinct mission sets including F-22 fighter jet operations and maintenance, intelligence and cyber operations along with multiple support units, the redesignation reflects the wing’s growth and diversity.
The change officially went into effect Oct. 1 by order of the Secretary of the Air Force.
Brig. Gen. Marshall L. Kjelvik, Air Component commander of the VaANG, presided over the ceremony held outside the 192nd Wing headquarters building at Langley AFB.
“Names mean a lot, we’re actually joining about a dozen other wings in the Air National Guard that are similarly designated for the same reasons,” said Kjelvik. “As we seek to become the Air Force we need, we are adding more mission diversity, squadron by squadron. We are no longer a single operational squadron based wing. That’s been true for several years, and the future holds only more of the same.”
One of the major changes to the wing is the addition of the 185th Cyber Operations Squadron, which has added 21 full-time and 50 part-time jobs to the local economy over the past 19 months.
“The Virginia Air National Guard has impacted the Commonwealth and the world over its rich 70-year history," said Col. Frank J. Lobash, 192nd Wing commander. "From the F-86 Saber jets of the 1950's to our continued mission in the F-22 Raptor, the 192nd Wing has always presented a formidable fighting Air Force to our nation. Today, just as the threats around the world evolve, so do we. We have changed the name from the 192nd Fighter Wing to the 192nd Wing not because we present less of the force but because we have matured into an organization spanning 12 distinct mission sets.”
The twelve mission sets include fighter jet operations, maintenance and operations support, distributed common ground system intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance, cyber operations, military meteorology, force protection and military police, highly mobile civil engineering response force, supply chain management, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive materials enhanced response force packages, medical support, and domestic emergency response and support.
“This is part and parcel of what the Secretary of Defense has in mind, when he says ‘It’s all about building lethal forces.’ and we’ve got the finest wing, in my opinion, in the entire Air Force,” said Maj. Gen. Timothy Williams, Adjutant General of Virginia. “What you’re seeing today is the recognition of the growth in multifaceted roles that are key to the success of our military and our nation.”
The 192nd WG mission is to provide a fully-trained organization of volunteer-Airmen dedicated to protect and defend the vital interests of the nation, state and community. The wing provides combat-ready personnel and equipment to support U.S. national security objectives in a federal capacity; protects life and property and preserves peace, order and safety in a state capacity; and participates in local, state and national programs that add value to the U.S. in a community capacity.
“It is our Virginia Citizen Airmen who offer their talents as F-22 mechanics, cyber warriors, intelligence analysts, combat engineers and much more to the forefront of our nation's defense, as well as provide aid and protection for our fellow Virginians during times of domestic emergency as seen during Hurricane Florence just three weeks ago,” said Lobash. “I am proud to be a part of this world class organization. Now our name reflects every Airman's contribution to our mission, the commonwealth and our nation.”
In addition to state missions, the wing associates with the regular Air Force, spanning three major commands, and performs standalone federal missions. The wing is comprised of four groups assigned to specific areas of expertise required to execute the missions: 192nd Operations Group, 192nd Maintenance Group, 192nd Mission Support Group and 192nd Medical Group.
The wing's home station since inception in June 1947 was in Sandston, near Richmond, until it transitioned to the F-22 Raptor and moved to Langley AFB in October 2007. Since the 2007 transition, the wing has continued to grow to nearly 1300 Airmen and 13 squadrons.
| Date Taken: | 10.13.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 12.06.2018 12:20 |
| Story ID: | 302414 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 54 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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