From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Active – 18 September 1947 – present
Country – United States
Branch – Air National Guard
Role – "To meet state and federal mission responsibilities."
Commanders
- Civilian leadership President Barack Obama (Commander-in-Chief)
- Michael B. Donley (Secretary of the Air Force)
- Governor Sam Brownback (Governor of the State of Kansas)
- State military leadership Major General Lee Tafanelli
The Kansas Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Kansas. It is, along with the Kansas Army National Guard, an element of the Kansas National Guard. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as of the state.
Overview
Kansas Air National Guard units are trained and equipped as part of the United States Air Force. The same ranks and insignia are used and National Guardsmen are eligible to receive all United States military awards. The Kansas Guard also bestows a number of state awards for local services rendered in or to the state of Kansas. The commander of the Kansas Air National Guard is Brigadier General Brad S. Link.
The Kansas National Guard consists of both Army and Air National Guard components. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. The National Guard is the only United States military force empowered to function in a state status. Those functions range from limited actions during non-emergency situations to full scale law enforcement of martial law when local law enforcement officials can no longer maintain civil control. The Commander-in-Chief of the Kansas National Guard while it is performing state missions is the Governor of the State of Kansas. The highest ranking military officer in the Kansas National Guard is the Adjutant General of Kansas, Major General Lee Tafanelli.
Mission
The Governor may call individuals or units of the Kansas National Guard into state service during emergencies or to assist in special situations which lend themselves to use of the National Guard. The state mission assigned to the National Guard is: "To provide trained and disciplined forces for domestic emergencies or as otherwise provided by state law." Kansas National Guardsmen serve to protect the lives and property of Kansans in response to disasters and emergencies throughout the state, including tornadoes, floods, snowstorms, and other weather-related and man-made disasters and emergencies. Through mutual aid agreements with other states they may be called to serve with National Guard units in those states for disasters and emergencies.
The National Guard may be called into federal service in response to a call by the President or Congress. When National Guard troops are called to federal service, the President serves as Commander-in-Chief. The federal mission assigned to the National Guard is: "To provide properly trained and equipped units for prompt mobilization for war, National emergency or as otherwise needed."
Because of the dual missions of the National Guard, Guardsmen are required to take two Oaths of Enlistment; one for the United States and one for the State of Kansas.
Units
The Kansas Air National Guard consists of two wings.
- The 184th Intelligence Wing is based at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas. Commanded by Colonel John J. Hernandez.
- The 190th Air Refueling Wing is based at Forbes Field in Topeka, Kansas. Commanded by Colonel Keith I. Lang
History
The Kansas Air National Guard was established as a part of the Kansas National Guard on September 18, 1947 concurrent with the formation of the Department of the Air Force. It has served in the Korean War (1950–1952), Berlin Crisis (1961–1962), Air National Guard Squadron Tactical Reconnaissance Interceptor Program alert (STRIP) (1955–1965), Vietnam War (1966–1969), Pueblo Crisis (1968–1969), Single Integrated Operations Plan Alert (1978–present), Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm (1990–1991), Operations Northern and Southern Watch in Southwest Asia (1992–present), Operations Joint Endeavor, Deny Flight, Joint Guardian, and Joint Forge in Bosnia-Herzegovina (1995–present), Operation Allied Force in Kosovo (1999–present), and the War on Terrorism (Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Noble Eagle (2001–present), and Operation Iraqi Freedom, (2003–present)).
References
External Links
- Kansas Air National Guard (http://kansastag.ks.gov/NGUARD.asp?PageID=44)
- 184th Intelligence Wing (http://www.184iw.ang.af.mil/)
- 190th Air Refueling Wing (http://www.190arw.ang.af.mil)