1.
United States
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Forty-eight of the fifty states and the federal district are contiguous and located in North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east, the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U. S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean, the geography, climate and wildlife of the country are extremely diverse. At 3.8 million square miles and with over 324 million people, the United States is the worlds third- or fourth-largest country by area, third-largest by land area. It is one of the worlds most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, paleo-Indians migrated from Asia to the North American mainland at least 15,000 years ago. European colonization began in the 16th century, the United States emerged from 13 British colonies along the East Coast. Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the following the Seven Years War led to the American Revolution. On July 4,1776, during the course of the American Revolutionary War, the war ended in 1783 with recognition of the independence of the United States by Great Britain, representing the first successful war of independence against a European power. The current constitution was adopted in 1788, after the Articles of Confederation, the first ten amendments, collectively named the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and designed to guarantee many fundamental civil liberties. During the second half of the 19th century, the American Civil War led to the end of slavery in the country. By the end of century, the United States extended into the Pacific Ocean. The Spanish–American War and World War I confirmed the status as a global military power. The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the United States as the sole superpower. The U. S. is a member of the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States. The United States is a developed country, with the worlds largest economy by nominal GDP. It ranks highly in several measures of performance, including average wage, human development, per capita GDP. While the U. S. economy is considered post-industrial, characterized by the dominance of services and knowledge economy, the United States is a prominent political and cultural force internationally, and a leader in scientific research and technological innovations. In 1507, the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller produced a map on which he named the lands of the Western Hemisphere America after the Italian explorer and cartographer Amerigo Vespucci
2.
Maryland
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The states largest city is Baltimore, and its capital is Annapolis. Among its occasional nicknames are Old Line State, the Free State, the state is named after Henrietta Maria of France, the wife of Charles I of England. George Calvert was the first Lord of Baltimore and the first English proprietor of the colonial grant. Maryland was the state to ratify the United States Constitution. Maryland is one of the smallest U. S. states in terms of area, as well as one of the most densely populated, Maryland has an area of 12,406.68 square miles and is comparable in overall area with Belgium. It is the 42nd largest and 9th smallest state and is closest in size to the state of Hawaii, the next largest state, its neighbor West Virginia, is almost twice the size of Maryland. Maryland possesses a variety of topography within its borders, contributing to its nickname America in Miniature. The mid-portion of this border is interrupted by Washington, D. C. which sits on land that was part of Montgomery and Prince Georges counties and including the town of Georgetown. This land was ceded to the United States Federal Government in 1790 to form the District of Columbia, the Chesapeake Bay nearly bisects the state and the counties east of the bay are known collectively as the Eastern Shore. Close to the town of Hancock, in western Maryland, about two-thirds of the way across the state. This geographical curiosity makes Maryland the narrowest state, bordered by the Mason–Dixon line to the north, portions of Maryland are included in various official and unofficial geographic regions. Much of the Baltimore–Washington corridor lies just south of the Piedmont in the Coastal Plain, earthquakes in Maryland are infrequent and small due to the states distance from seismic/earthquake zones. The M5.8 Virginia earthquake in 2011 was felt moderately throughout Maryland, buildings in the state are not well-designed for earthquakes and can suffer damage easily. The lack of any glacial history accounts for the scarcity of Marylands natural lakes, laurel Oxbow Lake is an over one-hundred-year-old 55-acre natural lake two miles north of Maryland City and adjacent to Russett. Chews Lake is a natural lake two miles south-southeast of Upper Marlboro. There are numerous lakes, the largest of them being the Deep Creek Lake. Maryland has shale formations containing natural gas, where fracking is theoretically possible, as is typical of states on the East Coast, Marylands plant life is abundant and healthy. Middle Atlantic coastal forests, typical of the southeastern Atlantic coastal plain, grow around Chesapeake Bay, moving west, a mixture of Northeastern coastal forests and Southeastern mixed forests cover the central part of the state
3.
Air National Guard
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When Air National Guard units are used under the jurisdiction of the state governor they are fulfilling their militia role. However, if federalized by order of the President of the United States and they are jointly administered by the states and the National Guard Bureau, a joint bureau of the Army and Air Force that oversees the National Guard of the United States. The ANG of the territories of Guam and the Virgin Islands have no aircraft assigned, ANG units typically operate under Title 32 USC. However, when operating under Title 10 USC all ANG units are operationally-gained by an active duty USAF major command. ANG units of the Combat Air Forces based in the Continental United States, conversely, CONUS-based ANG units in the Mobility Air Forces, plus the Puerto Rico ANGs airlift wing and the Virgin Islands ANGs civil engineering squadron are gained by the Air Mobility Command. The vast majority of ANG units fall under either ACC or AMC, established under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U. S. S. When not in a status, the Air National Guard operates under their respective state. The exception to rule is the District of Columbia Air National Guard. Because both state Air National Guard and the Air National Guard of the United States relatively go hand-in-hand, Air National Guard of the United States units or members may be called up for federal active duty in times of Congressionally sanctioned war or national emergency. The United States Air National Guard has about 110,000 men and women in service, even traditional part-time air guardsmen, especially pilots, navigators/combat systems officers, air battle managers and enlisted aircrew, often serve 100 or more man-days annually. As such, the concept of Air National Guard service as representing only one weekend a month, the Georgia Air National Guard and the Kansas Air National Guard previously flew the B-1B Lancer prior to converting to the E-8 Joint STARS and KC-135R Stratotanker, respectively. In addition, the 131st Fighter Wing of the Missouri Air National Guard transitioned from flying the F-15C/D Eagle at St and these proposals were eventually overruled and cancelled by the U. S. Congress. As state militia units, the units in the Air National Guard are not in the normal United States Air Force chain of command and they are under the jurisdiction of the United States National Guard Bureau unless they are federalized by order of the President of the United States. Air National Guard units are trained and equipped by the United States Air Force, the state ANG units, depending on their mission, are operationally gained by a major command of the USAF if federalized. Air National Guard personnel are expected to adhere to the moral and physical standards as their full-time active duty Air Force. The same ranks and insignia of the U. S. Air Force are used by the Air National Guard, the Air National Guard also bestows a number of state awards for local services rendered in a service members home state or equivalent. The creation of the regiments was caused by the perceived need to defend the Bay Colony against American Indians. This organization formed the basis of subsequent colonial and, post-independence, state and this distinction accounts for why there are no National Guard components in the U. S. Navy, U. S. Marine Corps or U. S. Coast Guard
4.
Maryland Air National Guard
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The Maryland Air National Guard is the air force militia of the State of Maryland, United States of America and a reserve component of the United States Air Force. It is, along with the Maryland Army National Guard, an element of the Maryland National Guard, as state militia units, the units in the Maryland Air National Guard are not actively in the United States Air Force chain of command until federalized. They are under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Maryland though the office of the Maryland Adjutant General unless they are federalized by order of the President of the United States, the Maryland Air National Guard is headquartered in Baltimore, and its commander is Brigadier General Allyson Solomon. Under the Total Force concept, Maryland Air National Guard units are considered to be Air Reserve Components of the United States Air Force, Maryland ANG units are trained and equipped by the Air Force and are operationally gained by a Major Command of the USAF if federalized. State missions include disaster relief in times of earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and forest fires, search and rescue, protection of public services. The 175 WG has two active USAF gaining commands, the Air Combat Command for its aircraft and United States Air Forces in Europe for its 235th Civil Engineer Flight. The Maryland Air National Guard traces its origins to 29 June 1921, on that date the 104th Observation Squadron was federally recognized in Baltimore. It became the first post-World War I National Guard unit to be equipped with its own aircraft,13 Curtiss JN-4 Jennies, the unit was based at Logan Field in Baltimore. The 104th was initially assigned as division aviation for the 29th Infantry Division and their annual summer training encampments were at Langley Field, Virginia and Detrick Field, Maryland. In addition to Jennies, the 104th flew a variety of aircraft during the interwar period. Shortly before the U. S. entry into World War II, along with the rest of the Maryland National Guard, the 104th was mobilized for federal service on 3 February 1941. During the war, the 104th flew anti-submarine patrols out of Atlantic City, in late 1942, the unit was inactivated and its personnel transferred to the 517th Bombardment Squadron, later redesignated the 12th Anti-Submarine Squadron, at Langley Field, Va. In the fall of 1943, the 12th was transferred to California, by this time most of its original National Guard members had been reassigned to other units as individual replacements. In 1946, the 104th was reactivated as the 104th Fighter Squadron at Baltimore Municipal Airport, equipped with P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft, from 1955 to 1958, the unit was organized as a fighter-interceptor squadron and charged with defending the Baltimore-Washington area against possible Soviet bomber attack. The unit soon converted to F-86 Sabre, and in 1957 relocated to the Glenn L. Martin Company Airport, Maryland gained a second flying unit – and its first group-level headquarters – in 1955 when the 135th Air Resupply Group was organized at Harbor Field. The 135th was one of a handful of Air Force special operations units in existence at the time, equipped with Curtiss C-46 Commando transports and SA-16 Albatross seaplanes, its mission was the covert infiltration, resupply, and extraction of special forces. Redesignated as the 135th Air Commando Group in 1963 and then the 135th Special Operations Group in 1968 and it remained at Harbor Field until 1960, when it too relocated to the Martin Company Airport. A second group headquarters was added in 1962, when the 175th Tactical Fighter Group was established in October, the 104th Tactical Fighter Squadron, which had heretofore operated as an independent squadron, became a part of the new group
5.
Warfield Air National Guard Base
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Warfield Air National Guard Base is the home base of the Maryland Air National Guard 175th Wing. It was named in honor of Major General Edwin Ted Warfield III, former adjutant general of Maryland, in 1982, martin State Airport, MD, is home to the 175th Wing of the Maryland Air National Guard. Nearly 1,500 full-time and traditional members are employed by the Maryland Air National Guard, the 175th Wing has state and federal missions to augment active forces and provide assistance to state authorities during natural disasters, civil disturbances and other emergencies. In peacetime, the 175th Wing prepares for wartime taskings, natural catastrophes, the unit must maintain the capability to meet mobility standards and worldwide deployment when directed by competent authority. This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http, //www. afhra. af. mil/
6.
United States Air Force
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The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a branch of the military on 18 September 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947. It is the most recent branch of the U. S. military to be formed, the U. S. Air Force is a military service organized within the Department of the Air Force, one of the three military departments of the Department of Defense. The Air Force is headed by the civilian Secretary of the Air Force, who reports to the Secretary of Defense, the U. S. Air Force provides air support for surface forces and aids in the recovery of troops in the field. As of 2015, the service more than 5,137 military aircraft,406 ICBMs and 63 military satellites. It has a $161 billion budget with 313,242 active duty personnel,141,197 civilian employees,69,200 Air Force Reserve personnel, and 105,500 Air National Guard personnel. According to the National Security Act of 1947, which created the USAF and it shall be organized, trained, and equipped primarily for prompt and sustained offensive and defensive air operations. The stated mission of the USAF today is to fly, fight, and win in air, space and we will provide compelling air, space, and cyber capabilities for use by the combatant commanders. We will excel as stewards of all Air Force resources in service to the American people, while providing precise and reliable Global Vigilance, Reach and it should be emphasized that the core functions, by themselves, are not doctrinal constructs. The purpose of Nuclear Deterrence Operations is to operate, maintain, in the event deterrence fails, the US should be able to appropriately respond with nuclear options. Dissuading others from acquiring or proliferating WMD, and the means to deliver them, moreover, different deterrence strategies are required to deter various adversaries, whether they are a nation state, or non-state/transnational actor. Nuclear strike is the ability of forces to rapidly and accurately strike targets which the enemy holds dear in a devastating manner. Should deterrence fail, the President may authorize a precise, tailored response to terminate the conflict at the lowest possible level, post-conflict, regeneration of a credible nuclear deterrent capability will deter further aggression. Finally, the Air Force regularly exercises and evaluates all aspects of operations to ensure high levels of performance. Nuclear surety ensures the safety, security and effectiveness of nuclear operations, the Air Force, in conjunction with other entities within the Departments of Defense or Energy, achieves a high standard of protection through a stringent nuclear surety program. The Air Force continues to pursue safe, secure and effective nuclear weapons consistent with operational requirements, adversaries, allies, and the American people must be highly confident of the Air Forces ability to secure nuclear weapons from accidents, theft, loss, and accidental or unauthorized use. This day-to-day commitment to precise and reliable nuclear operations is the cornerstone of the credibility of the NDO mission, positive nuclear command, control, communications, effective nuclear weapons security, and robust combat support are essential to the overall NDO function. OCA is the method of countering air and missile threats, since it attempts to defeat the enemy closer to its source
7.
175th Wing
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The 175th Wing is a unit of the Maryland Air National Guard, stationed at Warfield Air National Guard Base, Middle River, Maryland. The 104th Fighter Squadron, assigned to the wings 175th Operations Group, is a descendant organization of the 104th Observation Squadron and it is one of the 29 original National Guard Observation Squadrons of the United States Army National Guard formed before World War II. It is the oldest unit in the Maryland Air National Guard, having over 90 years of service to the state, the wing comprises two operations groups, The 175th Operations Group is the wings flying unit, and includes a fighter squadron and an operations support squadron. The 175th Cyberspace Operations Group is the cyber unit. The wing also includes support units, including security forces, engineers, communications, logistics, approximately 1,500 full-time and traditional part-time members of the Maryland Air National Guard are assigned to the 175th Wing. The 175th Wing has both federal and state missions, federal, In peacetime, the 175th Wing prepares for wartime taskings and to augment active military forces. In wartime, provides air support and cyberspace operations capability to meet the needs of combatant commanders worldwide. Blue alludes to the sky, the theater of Air Force Operations. Yellow refers to the sun and the excellence required of Air Force personnel, the crossbow symbolizes the fighter mission and the Pegasus denotes the airlift mission. The representation of the Maryland state flag reflects the consolidation of two missions within the wing and also indicates the units home location. Background, Approved by Air Force on 23 August 1996 and this insignia superseded one previously approved by the Air Force for the 175th Fighter Group following that units re-designation as the 175th Wing. On 1 October 1962, the Maryland Air National Guards 175th Tactical Fighter Group was federally recognized and activated by the National Guard Bureau, the 104th TFS becoming the groups flying squadron. Other squadrons assigned into the group were the 175th Headquarters, 175th Material Squadron, 175th Combat Support Squadron, equipped with F-86H Sabres, the 175th TFG was operationally gained by Tactical Air Command. On 13 May 1968 the 175th Tactical Fighter Group was federalized and ordered to active service and it was transferred to Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico along with the NY ANG 139th Tactical Fighter Squadron and 174th Tactical Fighter Squadron as well as the 104th TFS. At Cannon AFB, the Groups mission was to act as a unit for the 27th Tactical Fighter Wing which were deployed to the Vietnam War. At Cannon, the squadron trained active Air Force pilots in forward air controller duties, the unit did not deploy overseas. The units were returned to New York and Maryland state control on 20 December 1968 when the TAC 4429th Combat Crew Training Squadron was activated with regular active-duty Air Force personnel. In 1970 the 175th TFG was realigned from a Tactical Fighter mission when the F-86H Sabres were transferred after being with the 104th TFS for thirteen years, the 175th was one of the last ANG units to fly the F-86
8.
135th Airlift Squadron
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The 135th was active as a flying organization from 10 September 1955 to 30 September 2013. After 2013, it remained active but without assigned personnel or aircraft, operated combat-ready aircrew and aircraft to mobilize, deploy and provide intra-theater C-27J aircraft in support of U. S. interests worldwide. Supported theater commanders’ requirements for combat delivery capability through tactical airland/airdrop operations, symbolism, Ultramarine blue and golden yellow are the Air Force colors and symbolize that the unit is a part of the Air Force. The escutcheon portrays the coat of arms of the State of Maryland, the crossed jousting lances reflect the military preparedness of the squadron and allude the Maryland state sport. Background, Designed by Lt Col Ronald James and approved for the 135th Tactical Airlift Squadron on 3 October 1990, re-designated for the 135th Airlift Squadron in 1992. The motto, Baltimores Best was suggested by Master Sgt, lee Cherry and arose from the unit having been recognized by the Baltimore Is Best Committee on 18 February 1987. This insignia superseded one approved by the Air Force for the squadron in October 1960, the Maryland Air National Guards introduction to the world of special operations began when Air Force leaders decided to phase out active duty air commando units in 1954. Despite the decision, there was still a need to maintain a number of crews. The 135th Air Resupply Squadron was established in September 1955 as a new Maryland Air National Guard unit with no previous United States Air Force history or lineage by the National Guard Bureau. The 135th was designated at the time as a special unit that supported USAF unconventional warfare, direct action, strategic reconnaissance. The C-46 was supplemented by SA-16 Albatross amphibious aircraft beginning in 1956, the SA-16 completely replaced the C-46s in late 1958. Training for water landings with the SA-16 was extremely hazardous, to make matters worse, doctrine required pilots to land their aircraft on water at night, with no landing lights. Night water landings were practiced at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in southern Maryland, three crewmen were killed when their plane crashed while attempting a water landing in May 1956. Ultimately, the 135ths mission included counterinsurgency, military action, psychological operations, tactical air operations. Exercise Swamp Rat followed a typical training scenario. In October 1959, nine Maryland SA-16s flew to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the paratroopers and their equipment were loaded aboard the SA-16s and dropped near the swamps of Fort Stewart, Georgia. 135th crews then flew missions for the troops and extracted them when their mission was complete. In 1960, it relocated to the side of the Martin Company Airport in Middle River
9.
129th Air Resupply Group
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The 129th Rescue Wing is a unit of the California Air National Guard, stationed at Moffett Federal Airfield, Mountain View, California. If activated to service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, the 129th Rescue Wings mission is to train and prepare to perform its mission of combat search. The unit also works closely with the Coast Guard and various civil agencies on state missions, the primary mission is to prepare for wartime taskings as specified by applicable gaining commands. The peacetime mission is under the control of the Governor of California, upon mobilization, primary specified mission is combat search and rescue. When directed by the California State Office of Emergency Services and/or the Department of Defense and this includes search and rescue assistance to civil authorities, including International Civil Aeronautics Organization signatories, and foreign governments. Federal Mission, To provide manpower, material and equipment resources to conduct and complete combat search, to provide manpower, material and equipment to conduct and complete peacetime search operations. State Mission, To furnish trained personnel to respond to emergencies, such as natural disasters. A silver braid sword with red handle and hand protector divides the gold, superimposed over the sword and both fields is an olive wreath in green. The unit name is in blue on a white scroll, the emblem bears the colors of deep blue and gold for the Air Force and the colors red, white and blue for the United States of America. The sword symbolizes strength in war, the wreath symbolizes the peacetime mission, the deep blue field with the two stars and the gold field signify the nighttime and daytime environments in which the wing operates. Formed on 3 April 1955 as the 129th Air Resupply Group by the California Air National Guard, the 129th was a new organization with no prior history or lineage. It was granted recognition by the National Guard Bureau and was stationed at Hayward Airport, the 129th ARG was initially assigned to the Military Air Transport Service. It was designated at the time as a Psychological Warfare unit which supported USAF unconventional warfare, direct action, strategic reconnaissance, later in 1955, control was transferred to Fourth Air Force, Continental Air Command. The units mission was airlift of personnel and material using C-46 aircraft, in 1958, control was transferred to Eighteenth Air Force, Tactical Air Command with the mission remaining the same. In 1963 the first major change for the 129th occurred. Situations around the world produced a need for specialized units which could insert a small group of trained combat troops on land or sea anywhere at a moments notice, the 129th was tasked as one of the representatives of the National Guard in the Air Forces Air Commando Group structure. The C-46 was replaced with Helio U-10A and U-10D Couriers, the 129th later acquired C-119 Flying Boxcars and its named changed to Special Operations Group
10.
130th Air Resupply Group
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The 130th Airlift Wing is a unit of the West Virginia Air National Guard, stationed at Charleston Air National Guard Base, Charleston, West Virginia. If activated to service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command. The 130th Airlift Wing provides tactical airlift in support of the United States Air Force and they have a website, The website is, http, //www. 130aw. ang. af. The 130th being re-designated as an Air Commando squadron and becoming the flying squadron. Other squadrons assigned into the group were the 130th Headquarters, 130th Material Squadron, 130th Combat Support Squadron, aircraft assigned to the new group were C-119 Flying Boxcars and U-10D Super Courier combat observation aircraft. The mission of the 130th ACG was primarily Air Commando special operations missions, through the 1960s and into the 1970s the 130th participated in many international missions and received recognition for their performance. This included the 130th being awarded the Spaatz Trophy four times as the Outstanding Flying Unit in the Country, in 1975, the Flying Boxcars were retired, the 130th receiving the far more capable C-130E Hercules transport, and being designated as a Tactical Airlift unit. In December 1990, the 130th Tactical Clinic and the 130th Mobile Aerial Port Squadron had selective members activated and they deployed to RAF Bicester, UK and Dover AFB, Delaware respectively, subsequent to Operation Desert Storm. All members were deactivated by June 1991, the members of the group located in the United Arab Emirates received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with valor. In April 1992, some members and aircraft deployed to Rhein-Main AB. The 130th has deployed several times since this date for Provide Promise, in August 1993, one aircraft and 2 crews were sent to Operation Operation Support Hope for 30 days in Rwanda, Africa. Organizationally, the 130th was expanded to a Wing status in 1995, from January to March 1996, the unit deployed 2 aircraft,6 crews and maintenance support to Daharan, Saudi Arabia, in support of Operation Southern Watch. As of mid-2000, the 130th AW had recently sent several aircraft, while there, wing personnel were heavily involved in Hurricane Mitch relief to Honduras and Nicaragua. Its complement of 8 C-130H aircraft would be transferred to Pope Air Force Base, following an outpouring of community support, money was raised for newspaper and radio ads and to hire analysts familiar with BRAC, all in an attempt to save the unit. Funds were contributed from Yeager Airport, the Kanawha County Commission and the economic development organization. Bill Peters, Jr, former commander of the 130th and chair for Keep Em Flying, following this visit, and taking in all the information that was presented to them during that time, the BRAC commission voted unanimously, 9–0, to keep the unit intact. Being the first Air Guard unit to deploy outside the United States, first Air Guard unit to participate in Operation Bright Star near Cairo, Egypt in 1981. First Air Guard unit to participate in Red Flag exercises in 1981, only Air Guard unit to participate in the 40th year anniversary of D-Day, held in France in 1984
United States
Maryland
Air National Guard
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.
