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Illinois Air National Guard to Host One of Three Total Force KC-135 Wings

  • Published
  • By 126th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  The Illinois Air National Guard 126th Air Refueling Wing, as part of the U.S. Air Force's ongoing Total Force Integration initiatives, was selected, as one of three Air Guard Wings, to form an active associate KC-135 Stratotanker unit at Scott. The new association was recently announced by the Chief, National Guard Bureau in coordination with the Acting Director, Air National Guard. 

Beginning July 2009, active duty Airmen, comprised of aircrew, maintenance and support personnel, will be assigned to the Illinois Air National Guard 126th Air Refueling Wing, as well as two other Guard installations in Alabama and New Hampshire. 

"The Illinois Air National Guard 126th Air Refueling Wing is an outstanding unit with a great history," said Maj. Gen. William Enyart, Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard. "Our Illinois Airmen have an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience that makes the 126th Air Refueling Wing ideal to become an associate unit with the Air Force." 

Under these associate organizations, an Air Guard wing is the host organization. The assigned active duty Airmen will work side-by-side 126th Airmen flying and maintaining the Air Guard's fleet of aircraft to accomplish the wing's missions to include contingency deployments. Air Mobility Command, headquartered at Scott, will maintain administrative control of the active duty Airmen. 

The associated units will provide greater day-to-day mission capability from the three wings through the increased full-time presence. This capability will help the Total Air Force more efficiently utilize its KC-135 force. Such associations also generate efficiencies by sharing resources and reducing duplication of effort, increasing overall air refueling capability and preserving a corporate body of knowledge. They also help to improve aircrew and maintenance expertise and experience levels, capitalizing on the long-term experience resident in Air National Guard units.

"The legacy of the 126th Air Refueling Wing is proven with its nearly 60 years of service to the nation and over 80 years of flying with the 108th Air Refueling Squadron," said Col. Peter Nezamis, 126th Air Refueling Wing commander. "During the nation's most troubled times, the 126th has always answered the call. The wing's decorated accomplishments reflect the dedication of its officers and Airmen. This association will provide increased efficiencies through a combination of factors coupled with greater aircraft availability, utilization and trained airmen all increasing the command's capability to support world-wide aerial refueling requirements." 

Active duty Airmen will begin reporting to the Illinois Air National Guard 126th Air Refueling Wing, as well as the two other Air National Guard installations this summer. These three active associations are forecast to be fully operationally capable by September 2011. Each installation, including the 126th Air Refueling Wing, is scheduled to receive approximately 135 regular Air Force authorizations by their full operational capability date.