Photo By Airman 1st Class Sarah Hoover | An airman of the Maryland Air National Guard speaks with a member of the 175th Cyber...... read more read more
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MIDDLE RIVER, Md. – The Maryland Air National Guard’s 175th Wing hosted a two-day resource fair for Airmen impacted by the planned divestment of the A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft and the planned expansion of cyber at Warfield Air National Guard Base, May 1 and May 4, 2025.
The event, which was held inside the A-10 Maintenance Hangar, brought together subject matter experts and representatives from career fields across the Wing to offer guidance and share opportunities with Airmen preparing for this major mission shift. Day one focused on engaging full-time personnel, while day two was tailored to support drill-status Guard members navigating the transition.
“With the planned divestment of our A-10 mission, approximately 350 of our Airmen will be affected and that is a significant shift,” said Maryland Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Drew Dougherty, assistant adjutant general – Air. “This demands a proactive and people-first response.”
The 175th Wing is currently a dual-mission wing operating the A-10C Thunderbolt II and home to the 175th Cyberspace Operations Group, which executes offensive and defensive cyber operations and includes an intelligence squadron. The U.S. Air Force announced in March 2024 a plan for the Maryland Air National to divest all their A-10s this year and convert to a cyber wing.
On June 29th, the 104th Fighter Squadron, previously established as the 104th Observation Squadron, will mark its 104th anniversary of federal recognition and service. The unit was first mobilized for federal duty on February 3, 1941, and has since operated a diverse array of aircraft. In 1979, the squadron began flying the A-10 Thunderbolt II, and in 2007, it made history as the first unit to deploy the upgraded A-10C Thunderbolt II into combat during operations at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq.
The unit has completed nine combat deployments over the last 20 years.
Now, with the planned divestment of the A-10 mission, many members of the Maryland Air National Guard will seek out new avenues and plan what's next for their career.
“Coming down to the job fair and seeing all the jobs that are down here that I may not have seen before or known about opens up new opportunities,” said Maryland Air National Guard Senior Airman Antoine Lewis, a jet engine mechanic for the 175th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. “It’s important to see that the base is taking care of us and is offering options and resources, so we can safely take the next step.”
At the Resource Fair, each squadron highlighted their organization’s mission and discussed current opportunities in the field, as well as Air Force Specialty Codes for job descriptions, training requirements and more. Additional support offices were present, including the 175th Wing Recruiting and Retention team, Human Resources Office, Information Protection Office, Military and Family Readiness, as well as Military OneSource.
“We have to do everything we can to empower everyone with really good information and ensure that we’re giving every opportunity to teach and drive decision making,” said Maryland Air National Guard Maj. Michael Dezinna, director of operations for the 135th Intelligence Squadron and a key organizer for the resource fair. “All the units really stepped up to the plate and did an awesome job.”
Every unit of the 175th Wing was represented and used interactive displays, kiosks and subject matter experts to explain their missions, as well as discuss opportunities for cross-training, benefits, bonus eligibility, and pay options.
Maryland National Guard leadership is still advocating for a future flying mission at the 175th Wing during the ongoing A-10 divestment.
“This transition impacts more than just aircraft, it touches careers, families and futures, and I want members to know we are committed to every single one of them,” said Maryland Army National Guard Maj. Gen. Janeen L. Birckhead, the adjutant general of Maryland. “Our top priority is keeping all of the Airmen here in the Maryland Air National Guard.”
| Date Taken: | 05.04.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.04.2025 15:26 |
| Story ID: | 496951 |
| Location: | MIDDLE RIVER, MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 82 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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