One of the new missions being undertaken by the North Dakota Air National Guard’s 119th Fighter Wing Happy Hooligans will be to provide security forces to guard ICBMs operated by the 91st Space Wing at Minot AFB, N.D. Gov. John Hoeven announced the new role earlier this month, saying the Air Guard unit would begin hiring for 60 full-time and 80 part-time positions in April. The plan calls for the Hooligan squadron to integrate its airmen with the 91st Security Forces Group. According to the Minot Daily News, the Guardsmen will replace active duty Security Forces airmen tapped to deploy overseas. A 119th FW spokesperson, 1st Lt. Penny Ripperger, told MDN that the Air Guard members would not deploy.
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
