2008 Annual Report - West Virginia Army National Guard - U.S. Army

West Virginia National Guard Annual Report 2008
167th Airlift Wing
The light is on at the end of the
conversion tunnel at the 167th Airlift Wing.
2008 saw many new projects completed, and
the last of the 11-plane fleet touched down at
Martinsburg in September.
During the year, the base also completed
the following projects:
POL/Jet Fuel facility
The Wing also provided support to for
Tropical Storm Gustav. As the storm was about
to make landfall, an aeromedical evacuation
crew headed to Texas to assist state officials
preparing for the possible landfall of the storm.
The crew, consisting of two nurses and
three medical technicians, staged at Fort Worth
Naval Air Station in preparation for moving
Runway/Taxiway West construction,
upgrading available runway to 7,800 feet
The 167th was proudly represented
around the world as the following real
world taskings where filled by unit
members. Members of the Aerial Port,
Civil Engineering and Airlift Squadron
deployed to Phoenix Arizona in support
of Operation Jump Start. In support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Medical
Group deployed members to Kabul,
Afghanistan and Balad Air Base, Iraq and one
member of the Mission Support Flight deployed
to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. In support of
Operation Enduring Freedom the Logistics
Readiness Squadron deployed a member to
Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The Medical
Group deployed one member to Manas,
Kyrgystan, and one to Kabul, Afghanistan.
18
special needs patients. The crew transported
46 patients to medical facilities following the
evacuation from areas that could have been
affected by the storm.
Officials from the Texas Emergency
Operations Center requested West
Virginia’s assistance through the
Emergency Management Assistance
Compact, an agreement between states
that provides for mutual aid in the wake of
natural disasters or other state crises.
The unit also deployed its biggest
contingency since 9-11 as 28 members
of the Security Forces Squadron left for
Baghdad, Iraq in August with a return
date of March 2009. The 28-man team
is responsible for patrol and security of
portions of Baghdad International Airport.
Another major event that took place
was the promotion ceremony for former Wing
Commander Eric Vollmecke. Brigadier General
Vollmecke was pinned as a Brigadier General on
May 3, 2008.