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    128th Air Refueling Wing Members Support Presidential Inauguration

    128th Air Refueling Wing Members Support Presidential Inauguration

    Photo By Master Sgt. Kellen Kroening | Members from the 128th Air Refueling Wing along with the rest of Sijan Company perform...... read more read more

    MILWAUKEE, WI, UNITED STATES

    02.02.2021

    Story by Master Sgt. Kellen Kroening 

    128th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

    In the days leading up to the 59th Presidential Inauguration more than 125 Wisconsin airmen from the 128th Air Refueling Wing, 115th Fighter Wing and Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center led by Lt Col Timothy Guy, 128th Logistics Readiness Squadron Commander, mobilized and deployed to Washington D.C. for the event.

    The Wisconsin Airmen, along with over 325 Wisconsin Army Guardsmen, joined more than 25,000 Guardsmen from every state and territory to support the inauguration.

    During this operation Guy acted as the Company Commander for the Wisconsin airmen while executing their site security mission at the Nation’s Capitol. Additionally, as the LRS Commander, Guy was responsible for much of the logistical aspects of this security mission with an emphasis on equipment procurement and accountability to support the airmen.

    “Having the privilege to command the Airmen from the three units as we executed this mission was a great honor, said Guy. We had a wonderful command team and we were able to be on the line with the Airmen as we defended our democratic process.”

    The Airmen from the three Air Guard units made up Sijan Company of Task Force Wisconsin, which fell under Team Capitol in the larger task force responsible for the overall security of the event. Sijan Company performed site security and roaming patrols on the U.S. Capitol grounds.

    Over the last year, Wisconsin National Guard units have been called on to support several domestic operation missions, so for most of these Airmen it wasn’t their first time operating in this type of environment.

    “Many of the Airmen that made up the team were trained over the summer to support civil disturbance missions in Madison, Milwaukee, Kenosha and Wauwatosa,” said Guy. “We also benefited from many of the Airmen working in law enforcement in their civilian careers or full time as security forces defenders.”

    As would be expected for an around-the-clock security mission, the days were long - the longest being Inauguration Day, which saw many of the Sijan Company Airmen on duty for 22 hours.

    The Airmen were given the opportunity to rest when not physically on the security line and slept wherever they could find space including places like the Library of Congress. The troops returned to their hotels when off duty.

    “This mission was like no other that I’ve supported,” said Senior Master Sgt. Matthew Parco, Sijan Company, 1st platoon leader. “To say it was ‘unique’ is an understatement. The days were long and tiresome, but rewarding in their own right. Furthermore, this mission afforded many of our younger Airmen the opportunity to stand side-by-side with our sister services.”

    What was a successful mission was not without some small setbacks including a 45 minute commute to their hotel out of the city via a contracted bus service.

    Though this added hours to an already long day, the sense of accomplishment seemed to outweigh any inconveniences associated with the mission.

    At the end of the operation several outstanding performers were identified by their Platoon Leaders. The airmen were then recognized through a military tradition of being presented with a special coin. To make this recognition even more meaningful the “coining” took place upon the steps of the Capitol Building. One of those airmen was A1C Andrea Mlachnik.

    “It was an amazing and rare opportunity to be a part of history, said Mlachnik. I have a real sense of accomplishment seeing the people of Washington D.C. pulling together, feeding us, and helping out, as we make sure a safe and smooth transition happened.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 02.02.2021
    Date Posted: 02.02.2021 18:51
    Story ID: 388218
    Location: MILWAUKEE, WI, US

    Web Views: 358
    Downloads: 3

    PUBLIC DOMAIN