Freedom of Information Act

The 162nd Wing Communications Squadron processes requests for 162nd Wing records under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. Written requests may be received by postal service or electronically at Dana.m.watson.mil@mail.mil or by phone at 520-295-6638. Requests received electronically must have a mailing address included since it may not be practical to provide a substantive response electronically.

What is the FOIA?

The FOIA allows the general public including foreign citizens, military and civilian personnel acting as private citizens, to request records electronically or in writing from the Federal Government. Some records are released to the public under the FOIA, and may therefore reflect deletion of some information in accordance with the FOIA's nine statutory exemptions or two law enforcement record exclusions. A consolidated list of such records is on the DoD and Air Force FOIA sites. Currently the law allows 20 working days to process a FOIA request upon receipt of the request in the FOIA office.

Who can submit a request?

Members of the public, including foreign citizens, military and civilian personnel acting as private citizens, organizations and businesses, and individual members of the Congress for themselves or constituents, may request records in writing. It is important to remember that the Freedom of Information Act applies only to federal agencies. It does not create a right of access to records held by Congress, the courts, state or local government agencies, or by private businesses or individuals. Each state has its own public access laws that should be consulted for access to state and local records.

How to make a request

The Air National Guard has centralized its FOIA Program. We encourage requestors to make FOIA requests electronically through the AF FOIA website.

You may also mail, e-mail, or fax your FOIA request for ANG Records to:

Office of Information and Privacy (NGB/JA-OIP)
Attn: ANG FOIA Requests
111 South George Mason Drive, AH2
Arlington, VA 22204-1373
Phone: (571) 256-7838 or (703) 607-5901
Fax: 703-607-3684

Requests can also be made on-line at: https://www.efoia.af.mil/palMain.aspx or by e-mail, FOIA@ng.army.mil. When requesting by e-mail please be sure to indicate it is a request for the Air National Guard.

Requests for your own records under the Privacy Act must be made directly to the office that holds the records you are seeking. Service records on former civilian and military members are NOT maintained by the Air National Guard. They are maintained by the National Archives and Records Administrations' National Personnel Records Center. Records request instructions and contact information is listed on their website.