Director of the Air National Guard visits all three Illinois Air Wings

PEORIA, IL (09/09/2013)(readMedia)-- Lt. Gen. Stanley E. Clarke III, Director of the Air National Guard (ANG), visited the three operational wings of the Illinois Air National Guard located throughout the state, during a two-day visit to Illinois Sept. 5 and 6.

The director made the trip as part of his initiative to get out to operational ANG units and interact with Airmen to gain their standpoint on issues related to the force.

"The opportunity for me to get outside the Pentagon and actually visit with the Air National Guard is important to me as the Director of the Air National Guard," said Clarke. "When I work with the Air Force on issues concerning the total force, particularly as it applies to the Air National Guard, it is important for me to have the perspectives of the commanders, supervisors, first sergeants, and Airmen themselves, that are actually in the Air National Guard out in the states."

Clarke began his trip at Scott Air Force Base in Belleville, Ill., visiting the 126th Air Refueling Wing. He then visited the 183rd Fighter Wing in Springfield, Ill., followed by the 182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria, Ill. During his trip, the general explained the visits help him gauge the reaction of Airmen and place emotion behind ANG initiatives.

"Obviously with eye-to-eye contact you can carry on a conversation as opposed to having an electronic chat... and actually having follow-up questions with an emotional perspective (is important). You can tell more when you actually get to visit units and members, and tell the morale of the unit, how proud they are of what they do. And that's important for me to understand where the unit is with regard to morale."

During his visit, each unit had an opportunity to demonstrate their morale by showcasing the capability of the unit. The 182nd Airlift Wing, like the other Illinois units, was able to demonstrate many of their multiple mission capabilities in a static display that included many first responder duties for the unit. The demonstration included hazardous material response operations and a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high yield explosive enhanced response force package, also known as CERFP.

Through the demonstrations and interactions with Airmen in operations, Clarke stated the dedication Illinois Air National Guardsmen have to their mission is clear.

"My assessment of the Illinois Air National Guard is that they meet the pillars that I set forth for the total force, and that is that we must meet the same standards, for the total force, we have to take the same inspections, and we have to be operationally engaged..." said Clarke. "I would tell you every wing that I visited here in Illinois, it proved that they are doing that; meeting standards, taking inspections, doing an outstanding job in all of the inspections, and clearly exceeding them."

Following his visit to Illinois Air National Guard units, Clarke went on to visit the Wisconsin Air National Guard. Before leaving Illinois, Clarke made it clear it is up to each Airman to continue to tell the story of what he witnessed on his visit to Illinois.

"Continue your service to the state and the nation, and continue to be proud Airmen, and share that with others. Not just others in the Guard but share it with people outside. (Tell people) how much it means to you as an individual to be a part of the Air National Guard and the Air Force... that you look forward to further service to them overseas or something at home the governor might ask you to do," said Clarke.

Video of the visit can be found at: http://www.182aw.ang.af.mil/news/video/index.asp

Photo captions:

U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Todd Pendleton, 182nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs/ Lt. Gen. Stanley E. Clarke, Director of the Air National Guard, meets Staff Sgt. Brandon Johnson of Peoria Ill., with the 182nd Civil Engineer Squadron to receive a briefing on Urban Search and Rescue equipment during a site visit at the182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria, Ill. Sep. 6, 2013.

U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Ken Stephens, 126th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs/ Lt. Gen. Stanley Clarke, Director of the Air National Guard, listens to Senior Master Sgt. Ramon Wrzek of Troy, Ill., fabrication flight chief, explain how the fabrication shop is building a nose landing gear dolly to assist with removing and installing the nose landing gear on the KC-135 Stratotankers assigned to the 126th Air Refueling Wing located at Scott Air Force Base, Sept. 5, 2013.

U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Shaun Kerr, 183rd Fighter Wing Public Affairs/ (Right) Master Sgt. Carl Hasselbring of Bloomington, briefs Lt. Gen. Stanley E. Clarke, Director of the Air National Guard, at the Centralized Engine Repair Facility on the 183rd Fighter Wing in Springfield, Ill., Sep. 5, 2013.

Posted Monday September 09, 2013 at 05:31 pm by Illinois National Guard
Last Updated Monday September 09, 2013 at 08:23 pm