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  • Tech. Sgt. Orland Worcester, an aircrew flight equipment technician, helps a fourth-grader fully engage a four-line jettison, helping him steer to safety in a Parachute Simulator Virtual Realty Trainer. The fourth grader was a member of Wright Flight, a Tucson-based, non-profit organization that educates middle-school students about aviation, and provided that they meet certain academic requirements and personal goals, rewards them with flights in small-engine aircraft and visits to air base units like they did May 16 at the 162nd Wing in Tucson, Ariz. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Erich B. Smith/Released)

    Wright Flight more than about flying; student organization visits 162nd Wing

    On Dec. 17, 1903, the Wright Brothers made world history by putting together a wooden frame with some metal fittings and heavy cotton fabric, and giving it power to gain altitude for a controlled flight. It was an amazing feat, made possible with a can-do attitude and a drive to truly conquer new heights. It's that same spirit that formed the basis
  • Up close and personal. With an F-16 Fighting Falcon only 20 feet away, fuel flows from a KC-135 through its boom to the multi-purpose fighter. “Air refueling requires the ability to fly formation in a certain position,” said Maj. Brad Balazs, an F-16 instructor attached to the 152nd Fighter Squadron at the 162nd Wing in Tucson, Ariz. “Chances are good that if you can't fly formation correctly, you probably aren't going to be able to master the more difficult tactical skill sets.” (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Hampton Stramler/Released)

    Sky Harbor Copperheads provide for F-16's "global reach," allow more training

    As a multi-purpose fighter, the F-16 Fighting Falcon is a vital piece of air power for the United States and its allied nations, with its mere presence deterring enemy action, but capable of unleashing fury in and from the skies when needed. But even with its massive ordnance, maneuvering abilities or the tactical skill-sets acquired by its pilots,
  • Jonathan Rothschild, Mayor of Tucson, gets settled into the F-16 Fighting Falcon while Col. Phil Purcell, Commander of the 162nd Wing, waits for the crew chiefs to complete the remainder of aircraft checks, May 3. Rothschild was provided with all the essential training he needed before he was taken up on his orientation flight. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Dina Farmer/Released)

    Tucson Mayor jets across Arizona skies

    Exhilaration filled the air as Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild soared above the city May 3 in an F-16 Fighting Falcon piloted by Col. Phil Purcell, commander of the 162nd Wing."It was a blast," said Rothschild as he recounted his wild ride. "The aircraft has amazing capability." Rothschild visited the wing Saturday to meet Arizona Air Guardsmen
  • Chief Master Sergeant Shane Clark is congratulated by Sgt. First Class Francisco Ledesma after assuming responsibility as the Arizona National Guard Senior Enlisted Advisor. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Capt. Matt Murphy/Released)

    Arizona National Guard welcomes first-ever senior enlisted advisor

    The Arizona National Guard's first senior enlisted advisor assumed his new duties at Papago Park Military Reservation here May 4, 2014.     Chief Master Sgt. Shane Clark, a 31-year veteran of the Arizona Air National Guard, will serve as the state's top enlisted member - a position which only exists in a handful of states across the nation.  
  • A “fire dog” and an Airman’s Airman. Joining the Arizona Air National Guard when President Ronald Reagan was in his first term and the wing was titled the 162nd Tactical Fighter Group, Chief Master Sgt. Shane Clark will be heading up to the Arizona National Guard Joint-Forces Headquarters in Phoenix as the Senior Enlisted Advisor in Phoenix, Ariz. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Erich B. Smith/Released)

    An Airman's Airman says goodbye: CMSgt Clark departs the 162nd Wing

    It wasn't his ear-to-ear grin, the strong grip when he shakes your hand, the sleeves that are always rolled up on his ABUs or the memorable way he belted out the national anthem at unit functions that set Chief Master Sgt. Shane Clark apart at the 162nd Wing here for 31 years.     Instead, it was his tireless advocacy for the Airman that will be
  • The 162nd Wing Sexual Assault Prevention and Response team dressed in jeans and teal shirts for Denim Day 2014, being honored April 18 here at the wing. The team members are, from left to right: Maj. Stephen Moorhead, Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, Master Sgt. Brent Thompson, victim advocate, Master Sgt. Marnie Jewell-Johnson, victim advocate, Tech. Sgt. Mitzi Eggers, victim advocate, 1st Lt. Melissa Gonzalez, SARC, Master Sgt. Gary Jack, victim advocate. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Hollie Hansen/Released)

    April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

    April has been federally designated as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, SAAM. Each April, government and civilian agencies nationwide honor SAAM by providing educational opportunities and special events to increase the awareness and prevention of sexual violence.   Sexual violence is not an easy topic to discuss, especially for survivors who have
  • The 2013 Outstanding Airmen of the Year award recipients are, from left to right: Maj. Gen. Michael T. McGuire, the Adjutant General Arizona National Guard, Senior Airman Orlando Calzadillas, 161 ARW, Command Chief Master Sergeant Award recipient, Chief Master Sgt. Daniel Gutierrez, Arizona State Command Chief Master Sergeant, Senior Master Sgt. Raul Ortega, 214th RG, First Sergeant of the Year, Mr. Glenn Klassen, Phoenix Air National Guard Patriots, Master Sgt. Kristeen Jones, 162nd FW, Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, Command Sergeant Major Pamela Higgins, Command Sergeant Major of the Arizona Army National Guard, Technical Sgt. Christopher Davis, 214th RG, Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, Airman 1st Class Laura Carroll, 161st ARW, Airman of the Year, Master Sgt. Ben Acosta, President of EANGA, and 1st Lt. Mark Gronau, 214th RG, Major General Donald L. Owens Junior Officer of the Year. (U. S. Air National Guard Photo by Senior Airman Rashaunda Williams/Released)

    Arizona National Guard recognizes outstanding Soldiers and Airmen

    The Arizona National Guard recognized its top service members at the state's Outstanding Soldier and Airmen of the Year Banquet here March 22.  This year's banquet was the first joint Arizona Army and Air National Guard award ceremony, which allowed the Arizona National Guard leadership to recognize outstanding service members for their
  • It’s just business….nothing personal. Airman 1st Class Anna Solis applies a free-style stranglehold on Senior Airman Jessica Switzer on March 21 at the Western Army National Guard Aviation Training Site gym in Marana, Ariz. The two security forces specialists were part of an intense 5-day, Army National Guard-instructed training event titled Basic Combative Course. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman 1st Class Chris Drzazgowski/Released)

    Grappling, pummeling, trapping: 162nd Airmen learn to 'close with the enemy'

    The words on the gym wall summed it up best for 13 security forces specialists who trained at the Western Army National Guard Aviation Training Site here March 17-21.   "The defining characteristic of a warrior is the willingness to close with the enemy."  Through the Basic Combative Course taught by Arizona's Citizen-Soldiers, the men and women
  • Out with the old, in with the new…a new wing name that is. The 162nd Fighter Wing is now the 162nd Wing, marking the official inclusion of the 214th Reconnaissance Group. Brig. Gen. Edward Maxwell, Commander of the Arizona Air National Guard, Col. Phil Purcell, the 162nd Wing Commander and Command Chief Master Sgt. Shane G. Clark, Chief Enlisted Advisor, witness the unfurling of the new 162nd Wing flag by Air National Guard Honor Guardsmen April 5 here at the Tucson International Airport. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Hollie Hansen)

    162nd Fighter Wing now 162nd Wing; F-16 schoolhouse embraces new name, new group

    There will still be hush houses, a fire station, an avionics hangar, a dining hall, and the business of the world's premier international F-16 training unit will continue: foreign pilots trained, aircraft maintained, parts supplied, munitions assembled and so forth. Now the wing can add the MQ-1 Predator to its arsenal of military might and air
  • Federal, state and county officials manage simulated response efforts from Arizona’s Emergency Operations Center in Phoenix during an annual Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station emergency exercise Feb. 5. (U.S. National Guard photo by Army Sgt. Lauren Twigg)

    Exercise highlights Arizona’s Emergency Management capabilities

    "In case of emergency, pull handle," seems like an easy task - all one has to do is pull the lever and first responders come to the rescue.  If only all emergencies were that simple. In the event of a major disaster, the response is complex and requires coordination with dozens of agencies. State officials say practice is the key to ensuring a
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