Gen. The preferred location for the new F-35A squadron is Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass., while the F-15EXs are slated for Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, La., and Fresno Air National Guard Base, Calif. All three bases currently operate older F-15C/D model fighters which the Air Force wants to retire in the coming years. Scandals taint highest ranks of National Guard - PressReader Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. Members of the 144ths security forces conducted two investigations, according to internal investigative records obtained by the Times. In interviews with The Times, several current and former members of the Guard have described a climate of retaliation by high-ranking officers and mistrust in the organization's inspector general system intended to hold them accountable. (559) 453-5461 Local Education Both were inconclusive, and the case was closed. Pineda filed a whistleblower complaint, in which she wrote that she feared she would be forced out of the military because some had speculated that she urinated in her own boots "for attention." An internal inquiry also determined that Sikora improperly excoriated a retired pilot for speaking to The Times, the report said. Many of the pilots are part-time reservists, signing up after careers in the U.S. Air Force, and some fly in their civilian lives for commercial airlines. Some in the wing refer to the scandal as Pissgate., The saga dates to March 2015, when Staff Sgt. Copyright 2023 KFSN-TV. I want to reiterate that had I ever heard of any ethics issues like this from subordinates, peers or commanders, or perceptions of such, I would have corrected or addressed it on the spot, Magram said in a statement to an inspector general. Published Nov. 8, 2022. Maj. Gen. Clay L. Garrison, the top commander of the 4,700-member air guard, was dismissed for being unable to maintain a positive command climate, said Lt. Col. Thomas Keegan, spokesman for the California Military Department. (559) 454-5274 The urine incident and its aftermath fueled suspicions within the guard that high-ranking officers, including Garrison, mishandled two investigations to find the perpetrator and tried to bury the episode to protect someone who may have been involved, according to interviews and guard records obtained by the Times. A six-barrel cannon can shoot enemy fighters out of the sky. A third high-ranking officer in the California Air National Guard has been removed from his position because of complaints he made whistleblowers feel threatened at the 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno. Col. Jeremiah Cruz was named Kelly's interim replacement. These criteria ensure that those who join have the right mental, physical and moral aptitudes to perform the tasks required for military service. Local The command change follows a Los Angeles Times report on allegations that whistleblowers at the guards Fresno base suffered reprisals for questioning actions or conduct, including an incident in which a female guard member discovered urine in her boots. All Rights Reserved. The 194th Fighter Squadron (194 FS) is a unit of the California Air National Guard 's 144th Fighter Wing (144 FW) at Fresno Air National Guard Base, California. The Air National Guard is a reserve component of the United State Air Force. The commander of the 144th Fighter Wing at the Fresno base was also removed. A third high-ranking officer in the California Air National Guard has been removed from his position because of complaints he made whistleblowers feel threatened at the 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno. Rieger recommended in his report that Sikora receive a memorandum of reprimand and be relieved of command due to the loss of faith in him as a 144th leader. The California air guard is the second largest in the Air National Guard, a force of more than 100,000 pilots, other officers and enlisted people. He flew the F-16 Viper for more than 15 years, before converting to the F-15 Eagle. Fresno Air National Guard Base | Military Wiki | Fandom Fresno Scandal Forces Out Air National Guard Commander Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Northern California town on edge after second fatal stabbing in a week, Sheriffs Department investigates memo alleging captain wouldnt promote angry Black sergeant, CEO of Cookies pot brand accused of kickbacks, strong-arm tactics, Californias top military brass rocked by homophobia, antisemitism, indecent exposure scandals, What you need to know about the scandals at the California National Guard. Attempts to reach Magram for comment were unsuccessful. F-15 Eagle, 'right aircraft for the mission - The National Guard The 144th is the biggest wing in the state, home to roughly 115 officers, including about two dozen fighter pilots, and more than 1,000 enlistees in support units. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? The California National Guard has been buffeted by allegations of misconduct in its upper ranks, coverups and retaliation against whistleblowers. FRESNO, Calif. (AP) The head of the California Air National Guard, Major General Clay Garrison, was relieved of his command and replaced by Brigadier General Gregory Jones two months after a newspaper detailed the fallout from a scandal involving someone urinating in the boots of a service member. Chris Drudge) The 144th Fighter Wing (FW) of the California Air National Guard occupies two separate parcels of land (the main base area and the Munitions Storage Area) totaling 110.726 acres (0.44809 km 2) of leased land on the Fresno Yosemite International Airport . Members of the 144th's security forces, who police the base, conducted two investigations into the Pineda incident, according to internal investigative records obtained by The Times. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. FRESNO, Calif. - The roar of two fighter jets flying over Fresno marked the beginning of a new era June 18. Members of the 144ths security forces, who police the base, conducted two investigations, according to internal investigative records obtained by the Times. FILE - In this April 12, 2006, file photo, then US Air Force Lt. Col. Clay "Slam" Garrison, Weapons Officer assigned with the 144th Fighter Wing of the California Air National Guard, explains the units area of coverage on a map of California in Fresno, Calif. A mystery at a California military base led to claims of a cover-up. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Gov. Public File for KMAX-TV / Good Day Sacramento. 4/23 update:The LA Times has dug into the California Air National Guard scandal. The head of the California Air National Guard and one of its five wing commanders have been removed from their positions amid complaints of reprisals against whistleblowers and allegations of a cover-up of misconduct that reached into the highest ranks of the organization, officials announced Friday.