The New York Air National Guard’s 174th Attack Wing reached a major milestone in its MQ-9 Reaper flight operations on November 19, 2017 by completing 40,000 combat flying hours.
“40,000 hours is a milestone that represents the relentless pursuit of the terrorists that look to do harm to this nation, its citizens, and our allies,” said Lt. Col. Brett Batick, Commander of the 138th Attack Squadron (ATKS). “It demonstrates the fact that members of our Air National Guard, specifically the 138th Attack Squadron, New York Air National Guard, are constantly on watch, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It should provide comfort to our citizens in that no matter where or when the enemies of our nation hide, we will track them down,”
174th Attack Wing has flown MQ-9s off of Ft. Drum’s Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield since October 2011 and had its first flight from Hancock Field Air Base in December of 2016. The 174th initially flew just one flight per day, but now routinely flies daily with an average flight time of just over three hours. The hours each plane flies is meticulously maintained for inspection purposes.
The 138th Attack Squadron was the first Air National Guard unit to stand up the MQ-9 mission, in November of 2009. Since then they’ve flown the highest number of hours. That hour count was accelerated this year by being able to stand up a second Combat Line. Only three other Air National Guard units are currently doing the same.
The 174th was able to pass this mark in a little over eight years. They are now 1,000+ hours past the 40,000 hour mark.
“The greatest accomplishment leading to the 40,000 hour mark isn't in the number of enemy combatants that we've tracked, the number of strategic-level terrorists we've hunted, or the support we have provided to coalition forces. It is the systematic professionalism that has made those things "all in a day's work". That professionalism and success has led to the 138th ATKS becoming one of the premier MQ-9 Squadrons in the country. Consequently, our manning has improved to the point that we were able to stand up a second combat line, operate that line with our own crews, and accelerate our drive through 40,000 hours,” Batick said.
The current ground battles that persist in the areas in which the 138th ATKS operate involve a coalition of American and partner-nation ground forces.
“The 138th ATKS supports those forces on a daily basis and our members come to work every day knowing their overall mission is to protect those on the ground. This mission is so important to us that we've made it part of our mission statement, and the impact has been immense. The operators we support take comfort in knowing the 138th ATKS and our sister squadrons are overhead when they are in harm's way,” Batick said.
Members of the 138th ATKS feel that each hour flown is making the country safer.
“The efforts leading to 40,000 flight hours have made this country and this world a safer place. The scourge of international terrorism is being eliminated daily by coalition forces and the 138th ATKS has played a significant role in that endeavor. Every single day for over 8 years, that 138th ATKS has been in the fight working to track down terrorist nodes, combat on-going attacks, and provide the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance that ground commanders need to be successful,” Batick said.