An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Chief discusses follow-on missions with Mississippi Air Guard wing

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke
  • National Guard Bureau
Members of the 186th Air Refueling Wing at Key Field in Meridian, Miss., were not given any details about a follow-on mission for the unit Tuesday, but they were told by the chief of the National Guard Bureau that everything is being done to ensure that the time between missions is minimal.

"We are working hard to eliminate or at least drastically minimize the time between the missions," said Gen. Craig R. McKinley. "We have the support of your adjutant general, local, state and national political leaders, and many others to make this happen. This is very much a team effort."

The 186ARW currently flies the KC-135 tanker. It received the MC-12 Project Liberty aircraft in April and then was expected to transition to the C-27 Spartan Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA).

The MC-12 is a 16,500-pound special mission turboprop aircraft. The Project Liberty program is part of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates' Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) task force and derives from his direction to provide enhanced ISR capabilities to U.S. Central Command.

Air Force officials said the MC-12 will augment unmanned systems already flying reconnaissance patrols over Iraq and Afghanistan.

The JCA brings new and unique transport capabilities to the warfighter, ncluding short field takeoffs and landings, increased payload capacity - four times that of the Army's C-23 Sherpa transport aircraft - increased air speed and complete interior pressurization, said Guard officials. The aircraft is also capable of handling standard Air Force cargo pallets.

However, the recent DoD budget proposes that the anticipated number of aircraft be cut from 78 to 38. Also proposed was the transfer of the JCA from the Army to the Air Force, with details still being worked out by both services.

"The MC-12 project is very important and the C-27 mission will be equally viable," said Maj. Gen. William Freeman Jr., the adjutant general of the Mississippi National Guard. "Our number one goal is to keep Meridian flying. So keep on doing a great job here, and we'll be O.K."

After a tour of the base, McKinley said he was impressed with the unit. "I have been provided with excellent briefings on your service here and I've earned a lot," he said. "I've met many of you, seen the facilities for myself and I want to thank each and every one of you on your fantastic accomplishments."

National Guard officials said they were encouraged by McKinley's visit. "I feel very positive and encouraged that he came and saw with his own eyes what we have here," Col. Franklin Chalk, the 186ARW commander, told the Meridian Star. "I think the future is secure for missions here."