The California Air National Guard will regain the homeland security mission operated from March ARB, Calif., from the Montana Air Guard, possibly as early as fall, reports Associated Press. The F-16s belonging to Det. 1 of the California ANG’s 144th Fighter Wing “owned” the mission until 2003, when the National Guard shifted the mission to Montana’s 120th FW. As a result of BRAC 2005, the Montana wing is switching to F-15s, so ANG officials believe the unit won’t have time to train in its new fighters and run the March mission.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
