The Michigan Air National Guard’s 127th Wing out of Selfridge ANGB conducted its first-ever refueling mission April 12, marking a new chapter in the unit’s history since transitioning from C-130 transports to KC-135 tankers as part of BRAC 2005. The Detroit News reported April 12 that a KC-135 from the wing refueled several F-16s from the Michigan ANG during a training mission over the southeast part of the state. The flight took place just minutes after a change-of-command ceremony to mark the change of mission from airlift to refueling. The wing traded its eight C-130s for eight KC-135s. The eight tankers came from Air Force Reserve Command’s 927th ARW that was assigned to the base. As part of BRAC, the airplanes stayed and fell under the Air Guard, and the Reserve unit moved to MacDill, AFB. Fla.
When acting Air Force Secretary Gary A. Ashworth rescinded service-wide “Family Days” last week citing the need to build readiness, he left it up to commanders, directors, and supervisors to decide if they would still permit extra days off. Here’s how Air Force major commands are taking that guidance.