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.
So many new F-35s have piled up waiting for TR-3 upgrade testing to conclude that it will take a year to deliver them all once deliveries get the green light to resume, according to a new Government Accountability Office report. That go-ahead isn't likely to happen right away.