Around the Force 

ANG/AFRC: U.S. Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units deploy to the wildfires in Los Angeles County, Calif., providing aerial and ground support.

“We are doing everything we can to lean as far forward as we can, to be prepared to support the needs of the lead federal agencies,” said Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder (OSD/PA).

U.S. Northern Command activated eight C-130 Modular Aerial Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) aircraft along with more than 1,800 National Guard soldiers and ANG Airmen, who will join the multi-service, multi-agency effort. “Providing support to civil authorities is a valued part of our homeland defense mission,” said Gen. Gregory Guillot (USNORTHCOM/CC).

Guard and Reserve units from Wyoming, Colorado and Nevada will join California’s Air National Guard. The 1st Combat Camera Squadron from Joint Base Charleston, S.C., an active-duty unit, is also being deployed for documentation of the historic wildfires. 

ANG:

• F-35 Lightning II fighters from the Vermont Air National Guard’s 158th Fighter Wing deployed to Kadena Air Base as part of a rotational deployment on 13 January. These F-35s replace aging F-15C/D Eagles, which have been stationed at Kadena since the 1970s, with plans to eventually replace them with F-15EX Eagle II jets. “Rotational aircraft are a normal part of Kadena’s operations, and their presence ensures the continuation of our long-standing mission to defend Japan and maintain an open and free Indo-Pacific,” said Col David Deptula (18 OG/CC).
  
• Maryland and Michigan Air National Guard aircraft are in the final stages of maintenance repairs to return six A-10C Thunderbolt IIs home after a delayed return following a deployment in support of operations against ISIS in the U S. Central Command area of operations. The deployment was one of the most challenging the unit had faced, with Maryland A-10s in eight previous combat deployments over the past 20 years, according to Lt Col Ryan Yingling (175 OSS/CC). The aircraft, known for close air support to ground forces, have been at Naval Air Station Sigonella since November.