New Jersey National Guard

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The New Jersey Army and Air National Guard consists of over 9,000 Guardsmen from New Jersey. The Guard is currently engaged in several War on Terror missions. Units are currently deployed to Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan, Germany and Egypt. The Guard has also deployed to help with the recovery from Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

The New Jersey Air and Army National Guard is governed through the New Jersey Department of Military and Veteran's Affairs.

On the homefront, the Guard is responsible for Homeland Security tasks in the State of New Jersey. The New Jersey Air Guard has flown over 17,000 hours in the Middle East during ongoing operations for the Global War on Terrorism.^[1]

The New Jersey Army National Guard maintained the 50th Armored Division in the force from 1946 to 1988, and afterwards contributed a New Jersey brigade to the 42nd Infantry Division.

Contents 1 Leadership of the NJ Army & Air National Guard 2 Major Commands of the New Jersey Air National Guard 2.1 108th Air Refueling Wing 2.2 177th Fighter Wing 3 Awards and Decorations of the NJ National Guard 4 Notes, Links, and references

[edit] Leadership of the NJ Army & Air National Guard

Commander-in-Chief: Governor Jon Corzine

The Adjutant General: Major General Glenn K. Rieth

Deputy Adjutant General: Brigadier General Maria Falca-Dodson

Commander, New Jersey Air National Guard: Brigadier General Larry Thomas

[edit] Major Commands of the New Jersey Air National Guard

[edit] 108th Air Refueling Wing

The 108th Air Refueling Wing is an unit of the New Jersey Air National Guard that is responsible for aerial refueling. They fly the KC-135 Stratotanker and are based out of McGuire Air Force Base.

They were activated on 19 October 1991 (another source says December 3, 1992). The 108th received its first KC-135E Stratotanker on September 27, 1991. Yet, a scant 69 days later, on December 6, it flew its first refueling mission. Forty one days later, on January 16, 1992, it flew its first operational mission - a night, air refueling of an E-3B "Sentry" bound for the Persian Gulf. The 108th Air Refueling Wing did not have SAC approved deployment plans and had to be redeployed to the CONUS prior to Operation DESERT STORM and placed their tankers at other active duty and ANG bases to backfill for the deployed units. The Wing was reassigned (released from Federal control?) on 31 May 1992. The Wing is currently commanded by Colonel Michael L. Cunniff.

The 108th Wing has previous history in the New Jersey Air National Guard as the 108th Fighter Bomber Wing. Assigned to Strategic Air Command's 40th Air Division on 1 March 1951 at Turner AFB, Georgia, it was flying F-47s at the time. The 108th Fighter Wing was composed of the 141st Fighter Squadron (New Jersey ANG), 149th Fighter Squadron (Virginia ANG) and the 153rd Fighter Squadron (Mississippi ANG). It was activated on March 1, 1951, for the Korean War and assigned to the Strategic Air Command. It was reassigned to TAC on 16 November 1951.

[edit] 177th Fighter Wing

The 177th Fighter Wing or the "Jersey Devils" is a unit of the New Jersey Air National Guard stationed at Atlantic City International Airport. During statewide missions the 177th job is to protect life and property, provide disaster relief, and ensure public safety when called upon by the Governor. When federalized it is their job to provide combat ready personnel, aircraft and equipment for worldwide deployment in support of US Air Force objectives. The Fighter Wing is made up of primarily F-16C/D aircraft. The Commander of the 177th Fighter Wing is Colonel Randall S. King.

[edit] Awards and Decorations of the NJ National Guard

[edit] Notes, Links, and references

1. ^ fact given by Major General Glenn K. Rieth, during his re-nomination hearing in the New Jersey State Senate Judiciary Committee

• 108th Air Refueling Wing
• New Jersey Department of Military & Veteran Affairs