Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, the director of the Air National Guard, commends the six 2012 ANG Outstanding Airmen of the year during the 2012 ANG Outstanding Airmen of the Year awards ceremony

Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, the director of the Air National Guard, commends the six 2012 ANG Outstanding Airmen of the year during the 2012 ANG Outstanding Airmen of the Year awards ceremony at the Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Md., Aug. 22, 2012. The ANG Outstanding Airmen of the Year ceremony recognizes the ANGs six top performers for superior leadership, job performance, community involvement and personal achievements. (National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Marvin Preston/RELEASED)

Recipients of the 200th home built through the Innovative Readiness Training mission Operation Footprint

Recipients of the 200th home built through the Innovative Readiness Training mission Operation Footprint, Vera Vecenti-Hoskie , Jimmy Hoskie , and their daughter Regina Hoskie along with Roberta Roberts, Navajo Housing Authority, Public Relations Director, and Bishop James Wall, Diocese of Gallup, partake in a ribbon cutting dedication ceremony in Gallup, N.M., Aug. 16, 2012. IRT mission Operation Footprint is an Air National Guard led IRT multiservice mission comprised of active duty, reserve, and National Guard members from Army, Navy and Air Force components focusing on deployment and real-world readiness training preparing for wartime missions in a joint-service environment while simultaneously providing free civil engineering services to the community. (National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Melissa E. Chatham/RELEASED)

Airmen from the 146th Air Support Operations Squadron at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base are honored for their service in Afghanistan during a ceremony held on base Aug. 18.

Airmen from the 146th Air Support Operations Squadron at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base are honored for their service in Afghanistan during a ceremony held on base Aug. 18. Bronze Star medals, Army Commendation Medals and Air Force Combat Medals were presented by Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, Director Air National Guard.

Senior Airman Jameson Decker, 146th Air Support Operations Squadron, is presented the Army Commendation Medal by Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, Director Air National Guard

Senior Airman Jameson Decker, 146th Air Support Operations Squadron, is presented the Army Commendation Medal by Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, Director Air National Guard, on August 18, 2012 for meritorious service while assigned as Joint Terminal Attack Controllers in support of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team during Operations Enduring Freedom. Senior Airman Decker was deployed from November 2011 through March 2012. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Roberta A. Thompson) (Released)

Lt. Col. James Waltermire, 146th Air Support Operations Squadron, is presented the Bronze Star Medal by Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, Director Air National Guard

Lt. Col. James Waltermire, 146th Air Support Operations Squadron, is presented the Bronze Star Medal by Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, Director Air National Guard, on August 18, 2012 for his actions as the Brigade Air Liaison Officer for the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team while engaged in ground combat against hostile forces. Lt. Col. Waltermire was deployed to Laghman, Nuristan Provinces, Regional Command-East, Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom from December 2, 2011 through March 5, 2012. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Roberta A. Thompson) (Released)

Technical Sergeant Arden "Rick" Smith, a pararecueman (PJ) of the 106th Rescue Wing, NYANG

Technical Sergeant Arden "Rick" Smith, a pararecueman (PJ) of the 106th Rescue Wing, NYANG, died in the course of a rescue mission during the 1991 Halloween Nor’easter, or “Perfect Storm.”

Republic F-84F

F-84Fs of the Federalized Air National Guard in Newfoundland, November 1961, prior to flying the Atlantic to Europe in response to the Berlin Crisis. Because of the long over-water distance to the next airfield in the Azores, the planes were towed to the end of the runway prior to takeoff to conserve fuel. During this Operation Stair Step deployment of more than 200 fighter aircraft (the largest overseas movement of a fighter force since World War II), not a single plane was lost. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Capt Norma Parsons-Erb 1956

On 1 August 1956, Captain Norma Parsons became the first woman to join the Air National Guard when she was sworn in as a nurse in the 106th Tactical Hospital, New York Air National Guard. Two days earlier, Congress had enacted Public Law 845 allowing the participation of women in the Guard, albeit only as officers serving in nursing and other medical fields; women were not allowed to enlist until 1967. Before joining the Air Guard, Capt Parsons had served on active duty with the Army Air Force in the China-Burma-India Theater and as an Air Force nurse in-theater Korea during the conflict.

Ground crew prepares an F-84 from the Florida ANG’s 159th Fighter Squadron

Ground crew prepares an F-84 from the Florida ANG’s 159th Fighter Squadron for a combat mission during the Korean War. Unit was temporarily based in South Korea.

Major Donald J.Strait with P-51D “Jersey Jerk” in Europe, 1945

Major Donald J.Strait with P-51D “Jersey Jerk” in Europe, 1945. Enlisting in the New Jersey National Guard before World War II, Strait went to flight school, becoming one of two fighter aces with National Guard backgrounds with 13.5 victories. Postwar, Strait commanded the New Jersey Air National Guard, retiring in 1978 as a major general.

1st Lt Field E. Kindley, Kansas National Guard

1st Lt Field E. Kindley, Kansas National Guard, WWI ace (12 victories), with “Fokker.”

1st Aviation Detachment Gallaudet 1915

Gallaudet Tractor biplane rented by the Aviation Detachment, 1st Battalion, Signal Corps, New York National Guard, in 1915.