Aug. 22, 2008 Assumption of Command The 104th Fighter Wing will host an Assumption of Command for Col. Robert Brooks. The event will take place this Saturday, August 23, commencing at 1530 on the ramp. Distinguished vistors will include (Mayor of Westfield) Michael Boulanger and his wife Karen; (Massachusetts Air National Guard
Aug. 22, 2008 104th Fighter Wing Fire Fighters Hosted 11th Annual Charity Golf Tournament The men and women of the Barnes Air National Guard Base's Fire Department hosted their 11th annual charity golf tournament at Tekoa Country Club in Westfield on August 8 at 10:00 a.m. Proceeds were donated to the Holyoke Soldiers Home. In the last 11 years, this tournament raised nearly $35,000 for
Aug. 22, 2008 Unexcused Absences As a defense attorney in the Air National Guard, I am often asked by clients who no longer wish to participate in the guard what will happen to them if they decide to no longer attend drill weekends. Throughout my 19 years in the military, 10 of them as a JAG, I have been asked this question more
Aug. 22, 2008 Veteran Pilots Visit Barnes Throughout the summer, the 104th Fighter Wing hosted many visitors and tours. The groups included Boy Scouts, Check Writers Company, deployed family members, Employers in Support of the Guard and Reserve...and a very special pair of notable veteran fighter pilots. On July 31, Col. Don Ryan (ret.)
Aug. 22, 2008 Security Forces Coming Home Citizen Airmen returning from Iraq with honor It has been said that "time flies when you're having fun." Well, I can tell you the time has flown by during our deployment here to Sather Air Base in Baghdad, Iraq. However, I think if you asked the men and women of the 447th Expeditionary Security
Aug. 22, 2008 Relay 2008 Base Honor Guard and Safety Go the Extra Mile On a beautiful Friday afternoon I was honored to watch our 104th Base Honor Guard provided our local community with a truly professional and patriotic opening to this years Greater Springfield American Cancer Society's "Relay For Life" held at
May 21, 2008 F-22 Future…? Vision is an important part of an agencies growth; this is specifically true when it pertains to an evolving and dynamic institution like the military. The Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Michael Moseley, highlighted Barnes Air National Guard Base as a possible future home for either the F-22 Raptor
May 21, 2008 McKinley visits Barnes The 104th Fighter Wing of Barnes Air National Guard Base was honored by a visit from Lt. Gen. Craig McKinley, director of the Air National Guard, on April 5. This was the first time that an Air National Guard Director had visited Barnes in more than a decade. The director's visit focused on the
May 13, 2008 Staff Sgt. Kearns, Airman of the Year 2007 Amid all the Airmen in the Massachusetts Air National Guard, one stands out as the best. Newly promoted Staff Sgt. Michael Kearns was selected as the Airman of the Year for 2007. Kearns, a 25-year-old native of West Springfield, joined the Air National Guard four years ago. Since joining, he has
May 13, 2008 New faces in Operations Group The 104th Operations Group will be going through some changes, command changes that is. Lt. Col. Kenneth Lambrich will take command of the Operations Group from Col. Jon Mott during a ceremony on February 9th at 3:30 p.m. in the main hangar here. This change is particularly meaningful in that Lt.