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Flying Razorbacks lookback: 188th Wing 2014 year in review

  • Published
  • By 188th Wing Public Affairs
FORT SMITH, Ark. --  It was a busy year in 2014 for the 188th Wing. From saying goodbye to the wing's A-10C Thunderbolt II "Warthogs" and navigating the complexities of an on-going mission conversion to deployments, training exercises and visits from the Air National Guard's top brass, 2014 featured constant change and progress for the Flying Razorbacks.

The 188th Public Affairs Office labored diligently to catalog the highlights from one of the most action-packed years in unit history. The timeline below features several key dates in 2014 that join an already proud legacy. The accompanying imagery captures the essence and accomplishments of 2014.

2014 year in review
Jan. 15, 2014 - Two A-10C Thunderbolt II "Warthogs" departed the 188th as part of the wing's mission conversion.  Tail Nos. 0129 and 0647 were transferred to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.

Jan. 29, 2014 -- Lt. Col. Patric Coggin and Lt. Col. Toby Brallier conducted the 188th's last night-flying training mission in Tail Nos. 188 and 216, respectively.

Feb. 5, 2014 -- One A-10 departed the 188th. Tail No. 639 was transferred to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.

Feb. 9, 2014 - The 188th Wing held a Bass Reeves presentation in recognition of Black History Month.

Feb. 11, 2014 -- One A-10 departed the 188th. Tail No. 649 was transferred to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.

Feb. 22, 2014 -- Staff Sgt. Julie Darrough of the 188th Communications Flight earned the Arkansas Air National Guard Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and Master Sgt. Brian Anible of the 188th Mission Support Group won Arkansas Air National Guard 1st Sergeant of the Year.

Feb. 25, 2014 - The 188th Public Affairs Office earned National Guard Bureau awards for photojournalism and in the Outstanding Initiative in New Media category.

March 1, 2014 - Col. Misty M. Zelk, 188th Medical Group commander, was promoted to colonel. She is the 188th's first female colonel in the history of the unit.

March 6, 2014 -- One A-10 departed the 188th. Tail No. 216 was transferred to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.

March 6, 2014 - Dee Tankersley of the 188th Logistics Readiness Squadron was promoted to chief master sergeant.

March 11, 2014 -- One A-10 departed the 188th. Tail No. 613 was transferred to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.

April 2, 2014 -- One A-10 departed the 188th. Tail No. 621 was transferred to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.

April 5, 2014 - Air National Guard Command Chief Maser Sgt. James W. Hotaling visits the 188th.

April 18, 2014 -- One A-10 departed the 188th. Tail No. 586 was transferred to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.

April-May 2014 - Approximately 40 Airmen with the 188th Civil Engineer Squadron deploy to Guatemala where they constructed a schoolhouse for 100 students.

May 3, 2014 - The 188th hosts the second annual Hawg Jawg 5k.

May 4, 2014 - Airmen with the 188th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron conduct the final bomb load on and A-10 at Ebbing Air National Guard Base.

May 12, 2014 - Col. Mark W. Anderson, 188th Fighter Wing commander, conducted his ceremonial "fini" flight, which was his final training mission.

May 15, 2014 - Col. Brian T. Burger, 188th Operations Group commander, conducts his ceremonial "fini" flight, which was his final training mission.

May 16, 2014 - Lt. Col. Marty Dahlem, 188th Operations Support Squadron commander, and Maj. Doug Davis, 188th Detachment 1 Razorback Range commander, conducted the final A-10C Thunderbolt II training mission in Tail Nos. 646 and 188.

May 16, 2014 - 188th A-10s fire their 30mm Gatling guns at Razorback Range for the final time.

June 2, 2014 -- One A-10 departed the 188th. Tail No. 638 was transferred to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.

June 7, 2014 -- Two A-10s departed the 188th. Tail Nos. 646 and 188 were transferred to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. Maj. Doug Davis flew No. 646 and Col. Mark Anderson flew out No. 188.

June 7, 2014 - The 188th Fighter Wing is ceremonially redesignated as the 188th Wing.

June 7, 2014 - The 184th Fighter Squadron is ceremonially redesignated as the 184th Attack Squadron.

June 7, 2014 - Lt. Col. Anderson Neal relinquished command of the 188th Maintenance Group.

June 7, 2014 - The 188th Maintenance Group, 188th Maintenance Squadron, 188th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and 188th Maintenance Operations Flight were ceremonially inactivated.

June 7, 2014 - Lt. Col. Robert Kinney assumed command of the 188th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group.

June 7, 2014 -- Lt. Col. John Easley assumed command of the 223rd Intelligence Support Squadron.

June 7, 2014 -- The 123rd Intelligence Squadron, commanded by Lt. Col. Tina Lipscomb, is ceremonially welcomed under the 188th Wing flag during the Conversion Day ceremony.

June 7, 2014 -- Maj. Sara Stigler assumed command of the 153rd Intelligence Squadron.

June 7, 2014 -- Maj. Paul Needham assumed command of the 288th Operations Support Squadron.

July 1, 2014 - Lt. Col. Mitch Long assumed command of the 188th Security Forces Squadron.

July 27, 2014 - Tech Sgt. Frank Koeth, 188th Security Forces Squadron, received first place at the TAG matches in the Unknown Distance, Combined Sniper Weapons System Match and Combat Rifle Individual Championship.

Aug. 2, 2014 - The 188th Wing held its inaugural Wingman Day Olympics. The 188th Civil Engineer Squadron took home the first overall competition title.

Aug. 3, 2014 - Geoff Gibson won the first-ever Air National Guard Director of Psychological Health of the Year Award.

Aug. 3, 2014 - Lt. Col. Jeremiah Gentry received an Air Force Combat Action Medal for a 2012 combat mission in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Aug. 13, 2014 -- Senior Master Sgt. Scott Barr and his family accepted the National Military Family Association 2014 Family of the Year Award for the entire Air National Guard. The award was presented by Gen. Frank Grass, chief of the National Guard.

Aug. 25, 2014 -- Maj. Bridgette Scott of the 188th Medical Group was presented with a National Guard Association of the United States Theodore Roosevelt Leadership Award.

Sept. 30, 2014 - The 188th Wing's state firefighting mission ended after 27 years of service.

Oct. 5, 2014 - Juan Gonzalez of the 188th Medical Group was promoted to chief master sergeant.

Oct. 1, 2014 - The 188th Wing earned the cover of the National Guard Magazine for the first time in unit history.

Oct. 15 2014 - The 188th Wing celebrated its 61st anniversary.

Dec. 4, 2014 - A ribbon cutting was held for the Arkansas Air National Guard Recruiting Office in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Dec. 5, 2014 -- Lt. Gen. Stanley Clarke III, director of the Air National Guard, visited the 188th Wing.

Dec. 7, 2014 -- Gary Skelton of the 188th Civil Engineer Squadron was promoted to the rank of chief master sergeant.

Dec. 11, 2014 -- Maj. Gen. Jack Shanahan, 25th Air Force commander, visited the 188th Wing.

Flying Razorbacks lookback: 188th Wing 2014 year in review

  • Published
  • By 188th Wing Public Affairs
FORT SMITH, Ark. --  It was a busy year in 2014 for the 188th Wing. From saying goodbye to the wing's A-10C Thunderbolt II "Warthogs" and navigating the complexities of an on-going mission conversion to deployments, training exercises and visits from the Air National Guard's top brass, 2014 featured constant change and progress for the Flying Razorbacks.

The 188th Public Affairs Office labored diligently to catalog the highlights from one of the most action-packed years in unit history. The timeline below features several key dates in 2014 that join an already proud legacy. The accompanying imagery captures the essence and accomplishments of 2014.

2014 year in review
Jan. 15, 2014 - Two A-10C Thunderbolt II "Warthogs" departed the 188th as part of the wing's mission conversion.  Tail Nos. 0129 and 0647 were transferred to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.

Jan. 29, 2014 -- Lt. Col. Patric Coggin and Lt. Col. Toby Brallier conducted the 188th's last night-flying training mission in Tail Nos. 188 and 216, respectively.

Feb. 5, 2014 -- One A-10 departed the 188th. Tail No. 639 was transferred to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.

Feb. 9, 2014 - The 188th Wing held a Bass Reeves presentation in recognition of Black History Month.

Feb. 11, 2014 -- One A-10 departed the 188th. Tail No. 649 was transferred to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.

Feb. 22, 2014 -- Staff Sgt. Julie Darrough of the 188th Communications Flight earned the Arkansas Air National Guard Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and Master Sgt. Brian Anible of the 188th Mission Support Group won Arkansas Air National Guard 1st Sergeant of the Year.

Feb. 25, 2014 - The 188th Public Affairs Office earned National Guard Bureau awards for photojournalism and in the Outstanding Initiative in New Media category.

March 1, 2014 - Col. Misty M. Zelk, 188th Medical Group commander, was promoted to colonel. She is the 188th's first female colonel in the history of the unit.

March 6, 2014 -- One A-10 departed the 188th. Tail No. 216 was transferred to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.

March 6, 2014 - Dee Tankersley of the 188th Logistics Readiness Squadron was promoted to chief master sergeant.

March 11, 2014 -- One A-10 departed the 188th. Tail No. 613 was transferred to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.

April 2, 2014 -- One A-10 departed the 188th. Tail No. 621 was transferred to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.

April 5, 2014 - Air National Guard Command Chief Maser Sgt. James W. Hotaling visits the 188th.

April 18, 2014 -- One A-10 departed the 188th. Tail No. 586 was transferred to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.

April-May 2014 - Approximately 40 Airmen with the 188th Civil Engineer Squadron deploy to Guatemala where they constructed a schoolhouse for 100 students.

May 3, 2014 - The 188th hosts the second annual Hawg Jawg 5k.

May 4, 2014 - Airmen with the 188th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron conduct the final bomb load on and A-10 at Ebbing Air National Guard Base.

May 12, 2014 - Col. Mark W. Anderson, 188th Fighter Wing commander, conducted his ceremonial "fini" flight, which was his final training mission.

May 15, 2014 - Col. Brian T. Burger, 188th Operations Group commander, conducts his ceremonial "fini" flight, which was his final training mission.

May 16, 2014 - Lt. Col. Marty Dahlem, 188th Operations Support Squadron commander, and Maj. Doug Davis, 188th Detachment 1 Razorback Range commander, conducted the final A-10C Thunderbolt II training mission in Tail Nos. 646 and 188.

May 16, 2014 - 188th A-10s fire their 30mm Gatling guns at Razorback Range for the final time.

June 2, 2014 -- One A-10 departed the 188th. Tail No. 638 was transferred to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.

June 7, 2014 -- Two A-10s departed the 188th. Tail Nos. 646 and 188 were transferred to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. Maj. Doug Davis flew No. 646 and Col. Mark Anderson flew out No. 188.

June 7, 2014 - The 188th Fighter Wing is ceremonially redesignated as the 188th Wing.

June 7, 2014 - The 184th Fighter Squadron is ceremonially redesignated as the 184th Attack Squadron.

June 7, 2014 - Lt. Col. Anderson Neal relinquished command of the 188th Maintenance Group.

June 7, 2014 - The 188th Maintenance Group, 188th Maintenance Squadron, 188th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and 188th Maintenance Operations Flight were ceremonially inactivated.

June 7, 2014 - Lt. Col. Robert Kinney assumed command of the 188th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group.

June 7, 2014 -- Lt. Col. John Easley assumed command of the 223rd Intelligence Support Squadron.

June 7, 2014 -- The 123rd Intelligence Squadron, commanded by Lt. Col. Tina Lipscomb, is ceremonially welcomed under the 188th Wing flag during the Conversion Day ceremony.

June 7, 2014 -- Maj. Sara Stigler assumed command of the 153rd Intelligence Squadron.

June 7, 2014 -- Maj. Paul Needham assumed command of the 288th Operations Support Squadron.

July 1, 2014 - Lt. Col. Mitch Long assumed command of the 188th Security Forces Squadron.

July 27, 2014 - Tech Sgt. Frank Koeth, 188th Security Forces Squadron, received first place at the TAG matches in the Unknown Distance, Combined Sniper Weapons System Match and Combat Rifle Individual Championship.

Aug. 2, 2014 - The 188th Wing held its inaugural Wingman Day Olympics. The 188th Civil Engineer Squadron took home the first overall competition title.

Aug. 3, 2014 - Geoff Gibson won the first-ever Air National Guard Director of Psychological Health of the Year Award.

Aug. 3, 2014 - Lt. Col. Jeremiah Gentry received an Air Force Combat Action Medal for a 2012 combat mission in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Aug. 13, 2014 -- Senior Master Sgt. Scott Barr and his family accepted the National Military Family Association 2014 Family of the Year Award for the entire Air National Guard. The award was presented by Gen. Frank Grass, chief of the National Guard.

Aug. 25, 2014 -- Maj. Bridgette Scott of the 188th Medical Group was presented with a National Guard Association of the United States Theodore Roosevelt Leadership Award.

Sept. 30, 2014 - The 188th Wing's state firefighting mission ended after 27 years of service.

Oct. 5, 2014 - Juan Gonzalez of the 188th Medical Group was promoted to chief master sergeant.

Oct. 1, 2014 - The 188th Wing earned the cover of the National Guard Magazine for the first time in unit history.

Oct. 15 2014 - The 188th Wing celebrated its 61st anniversary.

Dec. 4, 2014 - A ribbon cutting was held for the Arkansas Air National Guard Recruiting Office in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Dec. 5, 2014 -- Lt. Gen. Stanley Clarke III, director of the Air National Guard, visited the 188th Wing.

Dec. 7, 2014 -- Gary Skelton of the 188th Civil Engineer Squadron was promoted to the rank of chief master sergeant.

Dec. 11, 2014 -- Maj. Gen. Jack Shanahan, 25th Air Force commander, visited the 188th Wing.