Delaware Air National Guard: Always on mission

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Matwey
  • 166th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
The Air National Guard is always on mission, which is represented by the Air Guard's ability to respond to homeland operations, security cooperation through partnerships nationwide with other countries, and their warfighting capability.

The ANG supports federal and state missions with 105,400 members in 89 wings and units, spread throughout the 50 states, three territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands) and the District of Columbia. ANG membership is comprised of 12 percent Air Active Guard Reserve, 18 percent technicians, and 70 percent drill status Guard members.

The 166th Airlift Wing, located at the New Castle ANG Base, Del., is the only wing in the Delaware ANG, which has more than 1,150 Airmen. The mission of the 166th AW is to provide tactical airlift and airdrop of troops, cargo and passengers using C-130 aircraft, plus aeromedical evacuation, civil engineer and network warfare functions.

Director of the ANG Lt. Gen. Stanley Clarke III recently highlighted the Air Guard's seamlessly-integrated capability as a proven choice for the war fight, an enduring choice for security cooperation, and the first choice for homeland operations.

"Guardsmen are always on mission," said Clarke. "You could be overseas defending your country and then come home and have to support a national disaster in your home state."