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

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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.
West Virginia National Guard Annual Report 2008 The Wing’s Family Readiness Group continued supporting families with an annual holiday party with Santa, the annual Easter Egg Hunt and, hopefully, the first of many Harvest parties. The group has been extremely busy supporting those families with unit members deployed and working in conjunction with a new MKO program (Military Kids Organization). The base also hosted a Family Day in July, entertaining over 2,500 members and families. Airman of the Year for the Wing were: Senior Noncommissioned Officer Master Sgt. Angela Layton, Logistics Readiness Squadron Noncommissioned Officer Staff Sgt. Robert Socks, Operations Support Flight Airman - Senior Airman Nathan Sisler, Maintenance Squadron First Sergeant Senior Master Sgt. John Umphrey, Maintenance Squadron Honor Guard Category Senior Master Sgt. David Stevens, Civil Engineer Squadron Recruiting had another banner year with 145 accessions. Master Sgt. Dan Jenkins won Recruiting Office Supervisor of the Year for Region IV. Other events included hosting the Eastern Panhandle Medical Association for a Health Professionals Day, support to an airshow sponsored by the West Virginia Regional Airport, and a Teacher’s Appreciation Day where 167th recruiters supplied local teachers with much needed school supplies. The 167th Retiree’s Association also stayed very active with the Wing and community. They were directly involved in refurbishing a C-121 Constellation. After crossing many oceans and visiting many countries, after living at numerous bases, after surviving The BoneYard, after being forced to live at the corner of an old field, one of the 167th Airlift Wing’s former C-121 Connies is almost home. Aircraft Serial Number 54- 177 is now inside the Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy facility near Dulles Airport. United Airlines provided personnel and the equipment to strip and repaint the Connie at no cost to the museum. Much work was done by Lt. Col. Berry Smith (retired), Chief Master Sgt. Jim Roberts (retired), Staff Sgt. Chance Long and Senior Airman Kenneth Remsberg, who are current members of the 167th Airlift Wing. This Connie is the only aircraft in the museum with a state name on it, and the only aircraft that some of the personnel from its former home unit helped work to restore. 19
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2008 Annual Report - West Virginia Army National Guard - U.S. Army

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