Montana Air National Guard
F-15C Montana ANG taking off Great Falls 2009
Active27 June 1947 - present
Country United States
Branch  Air National Guard
Role"To meet state and federal mission responsibilities."
Part ofMontana Department of Military Affairs
United States National Guard Bureau
Commanders
Civilian leadershipPresident Barack Obama
(Commander-in-Chief)
Michael B. Donley
(Secretary of the Air Force)
Governor Brian Schweitzer
(Governor of the State of Montana)
State military leadershipBrigadier General Bradley A. Livingston
Aircraft flown
FighterF-15C/D Eagle

The Montana Air National Guard (MT ANG) is the air force militia of the State of Montana, United States of America. It is, along with the Montana Army National Guard, an element of the Montana National Guard.

Overview

As a state militia unit, the Montana Air National Guard is under the jurisdiction of the Montana Department of Military Affairs. It is administered by the United States National Guard Bureau unless it is federalized by order of the President of the United States. Montana Air National Guard units are trained and equipped by the United States Air Force (USAF) and are operationally gained by a Major Command of the USAF if federalized.

Washington Air National Guard units are trained and equipped by the United States Air Force (USAF) and are operationally gained by a Major Command of the USAF if federalized.

The Montana Air National Guard is headquartered in Helena, and its commander is currently Brigadier General Bradley A. Livingston.

Components

The Idaho Air National Guard consists of the following major unit:

Established 1 July 1955; operates: F-15C/D Eagle
Stationed at: Great Falls Air National Guard Base, Great Falls; Gained by: Air Combat Command

Support Unit Functions and Capabilities:

The mission of the 219th RHS (Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron) is to organize, train and equip its 120 personnel for its role as a highly mobile, rapidly deployable, self-sustaining heavy construction and repair unit capable of supporting airpower worldwide and especially in remote and austere operating environments.

History

The Montana Air National Guard origins date to the formation of the 186th Fighter Squadron at Great Falls International Airport, receiving federal recognition on 27 June 1947. It was equipped with F-47 Thunderbolts and its mission was the air defense of the state. On 1 July 1955 the 186th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was authorized to expand to a group level, and the 120th Fighter Group (Air Defense) was allotted by the National Guard Bureau, extended federal recognition and activated.

Today the Montana ANG preforms a homeland defense mission, equipped with F-51C/D Eagle air superiority aircraft.

After the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, elements of every Air National Guard unit in Montana has been activated in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Flight crews, aircraft maintenance personnel, communications technicians, air controllers and air security personnel were engaged in Operation Noble Eagle air defense overflights of major United States cities. Also, Montana ANG units have been deployed overseas as part of Operation Noble Eagle in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq as well as other locations as directed.

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency