New Guardsmen get a head start on basic training

Every drill weekend in the 162nd Fighter Wing's recruiting office an important duty is carried out. Guardsmen dedicated to recruiting Arizona's finest young men and women are hard at work preparing the unit's newest members for successful military careers. Currently, thirteen new Guardsmen make up

Mondays now blues day for Air Force members and Air Guardsmen in Tucson

Many 162nd Fighter Wing members will now be wearing the blue uniform on Mondays. The new uniform policy stems from a recent four-star conference where Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz discussed the issue with other senior leaders. "Post-9/11, we've moved away from our blue uniforms

Families welcome home Security Forces Airmen

After serving half a year in Baghdad, Iraq, 19 members of the Security Forces Squadron here returned home Aug. 23. They were greeted in the 162nd Fighter Wing dining facility by family, friends, fellow Guardsmen and local media. Smiling faces and tears joy marked the occasion as returning Airmen

Poland's 'Peace Sky' at home in Arizona

In the transition from Soviet-built MiG-29s and Su-22s to American-built F-16s, Poland takes on one of NATOs most aggressive fighter up-starts known as "Peace Sky." A new generation of Polish Air Force pilots are learning how to fly their country's most advanced fighter, the F-16C/D "Jastrzab" or

International military student office best in the Air Force

They come from Europe, Asia and the Middle East to learn to fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon from the Arizona Air National Guard, and Guardsmen here serve as their wingmen in more ways than one. When flying over the military training ranges of Southern Arizona international student pilots have

Building capable allies, strong bonds: Arizona Air Guard teaches U.S. allies to fly, fight and win

Over European castles, Middle Eastern deserts and Pacific islands, F-16 fighter pilots are soaring in ever-increasing numbers. Their landscapes, nationalities and cultures are different, but they share several common bonds. They are allies, they are friends and they learned to fly their F-16s at an

Health fair teaches Guardsmen to make smart decisions

Arizona health care providers gave Guardsmen at the 162nd Fighter Wing hands-on experience with several issues that influence health during a Health and Wellness Fair here Aug. 7. The event organized by the wing's human resources office was the first of its kind at the Tucson-based Guard unit. Its

Guard pilot's fitness program goes nationwide

One Arizona fighter pilot is no longer flying solo - at least not in her efforts to make the Air National Guard a fitter force, less prone to death or injury resulting from poor fitness. Maj. Windy Hendrick, an F-16 instructor pilot at the 162nd Fighter Wing, developed the "9G Force Fitness" program

Father launches son on incentive flight

Retirees gather for 4th annual White Mountain picnic

For the fourth year in a row, on a cloudless June afternoon, about 100 former Air National Guard members, and their families, attended what has become the premier White Mountain ANG Retirees event. The weather was near perfect. While the temperatures in Tucson and Phoenix were well into the 100's