Kentucky Guard > News - Category 123rd Airlift Wing

Kentucky Air Guard completes mission to receive 11,000 Afghan evacuees
September 10, 2021 — Airmen from the 123rd Contingency Response Group returned to the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, Sept. 8 after completing an 18-day mission at Volk Field, Wisconsin, to receive more than 11,000 Afghan evacuees arriving aboard military and civilian aircraft... MORE

Airmen from the 123rd Contingency Response Group return to the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Sept. 8, 2021, after completing an 18-day mission at Volk Field, Wis., to receive Afghan evacuees arriving aboard military and civilian aircraft. The Airmen processed 87 aircraft carrying more than 11,000 evacuees as part of Operation Allies Refuge and the follow-on mission, Operation Allies Welcome. The evacuees were then sent to nearby Fort McCoy, Wis. The Department of Defense, through U.S. Northern Command and in support of the Department of Homeland Security, is providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening and general support for at least 50,000 Afghan evacuees at suitable facilities, in permanent or temporary structures, as quickly as possible. This initiative provides Afghan personnel essential support at secure locations outside Afghanistan. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Horton)

Kentucky Air Guard plays key role in Afghan evacuation
September 3, 2021 — More than 40 members of the Kentucky Air National Guard have played a key role in the reception of evacuees arriving at Volk Field, Wisconsin, from Afghanistan since Aug. 22... MORE

U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 271st Movement Control Team and Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group receive a plane of Afghan evacuees at Volk Field, Wis., Aug. 29, 2021. The Department of Defense, through U.S. Northern Command, and in support of the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security, is providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening and general support for up to 50,000 Afghan evacuees at suitable facilities, in permanent or temporary structures, as quickly as possible. This initiative provides Afghan personnel essential support at secure locations outside Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Eric Cerami/ 55th Signal Company)

Bancroft assumes command of 123rd Airlift Wing
August 8, 2021 — Col. Bruce Bancroft assumed command of the 123rd Airlift Wing during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville on Aug. 7, 2021, accepting the wing’s guidon before an audience of more than 50 socially distanced family, friends and fellow Airmen... MORE

Col. Bruce Bancroft (center) accepts the 123rd Airlift Wing guidon from Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Wilkinson (left), Kentucky’s assistant adjutant general for Air, during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Aug. 7, 2021, formally recognizing Bancroft’s assumption of command of the wing from Col. David Mounkes (right). Mounkes, who had served as wing commander since 2016, has been named director of policy for air operations, plans and programs at Joint Forces Headquarters—Kentucky. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Dale Greer)

123rd Airlift Wing earns 19th Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
August 7, 2021 — The Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing received its 19th Air Force Outstanding Unit Award during a ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, Aug. 7, 2021, maintaining a lengthy record as the most decorated airlift unit in the U.S. Air Force... MORE

Col. David Mounkes (right), outgoing commander of the 123rd Airlift Wing, pins a streamer representing the wing’s 19th Air Force Outstanding Unit Award to the wing guidon during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Aug. 7, 2021. The award, which is bestowed on the top 10 percent of all units, recognizes the wing’s outstanding achievement across a full spectrum of operations, from homeland disaster response to the war effort overseas, between October 2017 and September 2019. No other airlift unit in the United States Air Force — active duty, Guard or Reserve — has earned 19 AFOUAs. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Dale Greer)

123rd Airlift Wing dedicates new $8.9 million facility for response forces
July 30, 2021 — The 123rd Airlift Wing dedicated an $8.9 million building in Louisville, Kentucky, July 30, 2021, to house multiple units that respond to contingencies and disasters around the world... MORE

Current and retired members of the 123rd Airlift Wing, joined friends and family for the dedication of a new Response Forces Facility at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., July 30, 2021. The 28,000-square-foot building will house the 123rd Security Forces Squadron, the 123rd Contingency Response Group, a Fatality Search and Recovery Team, and a medical detachment for the state’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high-yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Phil Speck)

Maintenance University sharpens skills with joint training in Puerto Rico
July 18, 2021 — More than 130 Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard completed a week of intensive aircraft maintenance training in Puerto Rico June 12-18, 2021, honing proficiencies in a joint field environment while avoiding the distractions of home station... MORE

Master Sgt. Chuck Rodgers (right), a propulsion elements supervisor from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Maintenance Squadron, and Staff Sgt. Mike Hasson, an aerospace maintenance craftsman from the same unit, install engine panels on a C-130 Hercules at Muñiz Air National Guard Base in Carolina, Puerto Rico, on June 13, 2021, as part of Maintenance University. More than 130 Airmen from the Kentucky Air Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing trained on career-specific proficiencies during the intensive week-long course. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Phil Speck)

Ky. Guard reaches new COVID milestone with UofL ending drive-thru testing and vaccination site
July 1, 2021 — The Kentucky National Guard has been working alongside the University of Louisville since March of 2020 in the fight against COVID. On June 20, 2021, a ceremony marked a new milestone when UofL Health closed its drive-thru testing and vaccination site in downtown Louisville, Kentucky... MORE

Maj. Tiffany Campbell, officer-in-charge of a Kentucky National Guard team that has supported a drive-thru COVID testing and vaccination site for 15 months, speaks during a ceremony to mark its closure in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, on June 30, 2021. The Guard has assisted medical staff from the University of Louisville with 17,160 COVID tests and the vaccination of more than 145,230 citizens. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Phil Speck)

Tongate assumes role as state command chief for Kentucky Air Guard
June 29, 2021 — Chief Master Sgt. James Tongate assumed responsibility as state command chief for Joint Force Headquarters—Air, Kentucky National Guard, during a ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, May 15, 2021... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. James Tongate stands at attention to accept his new role as state command chief of the Kentucky Air National Guard during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., May 15, 2021. Tongate previously served as human resource advisor for the 123rd Airlift Wing. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Chloe Ochs)

Kentucky Guard Celebrates 229th Birthday
June 24, 2021 — This is the first time the Kentucky Guard has publicly celebrated the date, according to Lt. Col. Stephen Martin, the State Director of Public Affairs, and Master of Ceremonies for the event... MORE

During the ceremony, there was a ceremonial cake cutting where the two senior members of the Air Guard and Army Guard helped cut the cake with the two lowest ranking members in attendance of each branch.

123rd CRG completes successful U.S. TRANSCOM training mission with U.S. Army
June 24, 2021 — More than 100 Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group joined approximately 50 Soldiers the U.S. Army’s 690th Rapid Port Opening Element to participate in Operation Lone Oak, a U.S. Transportation Command Turbo Distribution exercise held June 7-12, 2021... MORE

Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group set up their base of operations for a Joint Task Force-Port Opening exercise known as Operation Lone Oak on June 7, 2021, at Volk Field, Wis. The objective of a JTF-PO is to establish a complete air logistics hub and surface distribution network from scratch. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Vicky Spesard)

Special Tactics troop from Kentucky Air Guard earns Airman’s Medal for heroism
June 12, 2021 — A special operations Airman in the Kentucky Air National Guard was awarded the Airman’s Medal in a ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, June 12, 2021, for voluntarily risking his own life to save others while responding to a car crash near Louisville on the night of Nov. 16, 2018... MORE

Brig. Gen. Hal Lamberton (left), the adjutant general for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, pins the Airman’s Medal to the uniform of Master Sgt. Daniel Keller, a combat controller in the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., June 12, 2021. Keller earned the award for heroism in recognition of his actions to save human life following a traffic accident near Louisville in 2018. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Horton)

Governor Beshear, Kentucky National Guard remember the fallen
May 31, 2021 — Soldiers and civilians gathered outside Boone National Guard Center at the Fallen Soldier Memorial for their annual Memorial Day ceremony May 31, 2021... MORE

Guardsmen support Derby in reduced capacity
May 2, 2021 — Louisville's historic Churchill Downs hosted the 147th Kentucky Derby, May 1, 2021, but for the Kentucky National Guard, this year's support and augmentation of local law enforcement were certainly different due to COVID-19 restrictions... MORE

Cecil concludes 24-year Kentucky Air National Guard Career
May 1, 2021 — After 24 years of service to the Kentucky Air Guard, Chief Master Sgt. Shaun P. Cecil retired during a ceremony held in the maintenance hangar at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, April 10, 2021... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. Shaun P. Cecil, chief enlisted manager for the 123rd Civil Engineer Squadron, speaks to audience members during his retirement ceremony April 10, 2021, at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky. Cecil's career spanned 24 years. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Clayton Wear)

Kentucky Air Guard kicks off 2021 Thunder air show
April 19, 2021 — The Kentucky Air National Guard kicked off the Thunder Over Louisville air show April 17 with a nine-person parachute jump from one of the unit’s aircraft by members of its special tactics squadron... MORE

A member of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron executes a high-altitude, low-opening parachute jump into Bowman Field in Louisville, Ky., April 17, 2021 to open the Thunder Over Louisville air show. The annual event featured more than 20 military and civilian aircraft. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Dale Greer)

Kentucky Air Guard to open Thunder Over Louisville air show with special tactics jump
April 16, 2021 — The Kentucky Air National Guard is slated to open the April 17 Thunder Over Louisville air show with a nine-person parachute jump from one of the unit’s aircraft by members of its special tactics squadron... MORE

Special operators from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron parachute into the Ohio River from a C-130 aircraft during the Thunder Over Louisville air show in Louisville, Ky., April 21, 2018. The squadron, which is comprised of combat controllers, pararescuemen, special operations weathermen and special tactics officers, will perform a similar jump during this year's Thunder air show. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Dale Greer)

Ky. Guard supports new site capable of 4,000 daily COVID vaccinations
April 12, 2021 — The state’s largest drive-through clinic for COVID-19 vaccinations officially opened at Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky, today with the help of 35 Airmen and Soldiers from the Kentucky National Guard... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. Nicholas Wentworth of the Kentucky Army National Guard directs traffic at Kentucky’s largest drive-through COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, Ky., April 12, 2021. More than 30 Soldiers and Airmen from the Kentucky Army and Air National Guard are providing direct support to the clinic, which can vaccinate up to 4,000 patients a day. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Dale Greer)

Kentucky Guardsmen train with search and rescue teams
March 30, 2021 — Approximately 100 Kentucky National Guard Soldiers and Airmen along with several dozen members of the London-Laurel Rescue Squad and Laurel County Emergency Management cross trained on search and rescue techniques to help improve search and rescue operations March 27-30, 2021... MORE

Kentucky National Guard Soldiers and Airmen along with several dozen members of the London-Laurel Rescue Squad and Laurel County Emergency Management

Kentucky Air Guard flies 92.5 tons of relief supplies to Texas
February 26, 2021 — Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard have spent the past five days flying relief supplies into Texas following a winter storm that led to the near-collapse of the electrical grid, leaving millions without heat or water for days... MORE

Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard deliver relief supplies to Abilene, Texas Feb. 23, 2021, following a winter storm that left millions without electricity or potable water for days. The supplies, flown aboard a C-130 Hercules aircraft from the Louisville, Kentucky-based 123rd Airlift Wing, include food and bottled water. (U.S. Air National Guard photo)

COVID vaccinations underway for military members at 123rd Airlift Wing
January 31, 2021 — As health officials across the nation continue to report record infections from COVID-19, more vaccination options are being rolled out in Kentucky, including here at the 123rd Airlift Wing... MORE

Master Sgt. Natasha Perry, a medic with the 123rd Medical Group, prepares to administer a COVID-19 vaccination to members of the 123rd Airlift Wing at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville Ky., Jan. 9, 2021. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua Horton)

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