California Air Guard head removed over cover-up, retaliation Gen. Jeffrey Magram will be involuntarily transferred next week to the U.S. Air Force retired reserve, an action that is parallel to a firing, California National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Brandon Hill said Friday. He said he believed the allegations were lodged by someone who overheard and misconstrued a conversation he had with a chaplain. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. 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. 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. Gen. David Hawkins made antisemitic and homophobic slurs, including that Jews are unrepentant sinners and that gay marriage is a reason terrorists attack the United States. Gen. Gregory Jones two months after a newspaper. The California air guard is the second largest, after New York's, in the Air National Guard, which is a force of more than 100,000 pilots, other officers and enlisted people. Dave Bakos, a retired general who served in the Guard for 32 years and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, was among those who said Garrison should have demanded a more thorough investigation from the start. A 144th pilot, Lt. Col. It said Sikora used insulting and defamatory language in remarks to subordinates. Jones has served as assistant adjutant general since December 2017. He also recommended close monitoring of any unfavorable personnel actions against complainants or witnesses in the 144th as possible reprisal. Gavin Newsom referred questions about Friday's shakeup back to the Guard. 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. That inquiry is part of a broader investigation into whether whistleblowers at the 144th suffered reprisals for questioning the actions of their superiors on a range of matters. To find out about jobs in the Air National Guard check out: Public Scoping Process: July 19 - Sept. 2, 2022, COVID-19 What is the U.S. Government doing, FRESNO RELATIVE RISK SITE EVALUATION FACT SHEET & SCORING SUMMARIES, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. FRESNO, Calif. The head of the California Air National Guard, Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison, was relieved of command and replaced by Brig. It just took her a long time to decide what she wanted, a lot of comparison shopping amongst products.. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing this? 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. A guard spokesman, Lt. Col. Jonathan Shiroma, on Friday confirmed the shake-up, but he did not have additional details. Three days later, the report said, he called a mandatory meeting of his subordinates to discuss his suspension. 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Local Education Jones has served as assistant adjutant general since December 2017. U.S. Air Force Col. Public Affairs Office: Both were inconclusive, and the case was closed. The Guard memo obtained by The Times says Magram on several occasions wrongfully encouraged or requested subordinates to perform tasks or run errands for him outside their military duties, such as giving him rides to personal appointments. All Rights Reserved. The commander of the 144th Fighter Wing at the Fresno base was also removed. Troy Havener, 144th Fighter Wing commander, said, "We have the distinct honor of being the . ", By Magram said in his statement that he was late in completing the training because of a tremendously busy operational tempo.. The exercise is a joint and multinational exercise that will involve approximately 950 personnel from nine nations. A Guard member who took Magrams mother shopping was quoted in the report as saying that she was particular. | 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. The scandal dates back to March 2015, when Staff Sgt. (559) 515-6008 Now Eric Bischoff to Tell Story in Fresno. 144th Fighter Wing Public Affairs. Sikora did not respond to requests for comment Friday. Swertfager could not be reached for comment. Recruiters: First published on April 5, 2019 / 7:29 PM. ), At Willie Nelson 90, country, rock and rap stars pay tribute, but Willie and Trigger steal the show, Concertgoer lets out a loud full body orgasm while L.A. Phil plays Tchaikovskys 5th, Plaschke: Lakers live up to their legacy with a close-out win for the ages, L.A. Affairs: I had my reasons for not dating white men. / CBS Sacramento. Opinion, California "They're scared to speak up so I'm speaking for them," said Maj. Dan Woodside. The 144th Fighter Wing (144 FW) is a unit of the California Air National Guard, stationed at Fresno Air National Guard Base, California. FRESNO, Calif. The head of the California Air National Guard, Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison, was relieved of command and replaced by Brig. The first of three investigations launched right after Staff Sgt. Careers - AF Airman & Family Readiness Office: Woodside says the IG system isn't working right now, though, because investigators aren't acting independently of wing commanders. The Air Force says that Nehring has been a member of the 144th for more than 20 years. At least five guard members from the 144th wing filed formal complaints. They patrol state airspace and stand ready to respond to natural disasters and large-scale terrorist attacks. ID cardquestions and appointments: Two of those were related to the urine incident, including one filed by Pineda. FRESNO, Calif. - The roar of two fighter jets flying over Fresno marked the beginning of a new era June 18. She also signed off on the request to discard the evidence. April 12, 2019 7:05 PM PT 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. The commander of the fighter squadron at the time, Col. Sean Navin, was one of the drinkers. (559) 453-5461 We share in the sorrow felt by Jethro's loved ones and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends as well as those of the Ukrainian aviator.". Magram, who was once director of the Guard's air staff, is the fifth general to resign, retire or be fired in the wake of scandals exposed by Times investigations of the organization over the last four years. The guards function as state militias whose leaders report to their respective governors. Garrison did not act alone in this. However, Magram had been counseled in 2017 that tasking Guard members for rides to personal appointments was inappropriate, the report stated, adding that his wingman argument rings hollow. The investigation similarly faulted him for using an underling to work on his travel awards accounts, including for personal trips. Disgusting discovery, accusations of cover-up at Fresno - ABC30 Fresno "This is not a problem with the rank and file, the rank and file pilots or the great people that do their job out there every day," he said. The Guard denies it. Pissgate was just one example, Woodside said. 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. Alene Tchekmedyian And Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times These criteria ensure that those who join have the right mental, physical and moral aptitudes to perform the tasks required for military service. Our traditional members serve one weekend each month and about two weeks each year, with opportunities for full-time employment. Our mission is to promote positive support for the 144th Fighter Wing and the California Air National Guard by providing accurate, relevant and timely information to our members, their families, our local community, our state and our nation. When it comes to protecting U.S. Air Force's military assets, the responsibility falls on the Security Forces Defenders. Both were inconclusive and the case was closed. At least five Guard members from the 144th wing, including a pilot who was killed in October in a crash during a training mission in Ukraine, filed formal complaints. Nehring was a fighter pilot with the California Air National Guard's 194th Fighter Squadron, part of the 144th Fighter Wing based at the Fresno Air National Guard Base, located on the southeast corner of Fresno-Yosemite International Airport. 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 . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Contact the Public Affairs Office at: 144FW.HQ.PublicAffairs@us.af.mil, Directory: Commander out at California Air National Guard after boot urination scandal U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael Loh paid a visit to the California Air National Guards 144th Fighter Wing where he engaged with Airmen during their drill Feb. 4, 2023, at the Fresno Air National Guard Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. 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, By Gen. Copyright 2023 KFSN-TV. Former military lawyer Scott Taylor tells us the story now is less about the crime and more about officers accusing their superiors of covering it up. A mystery at a California military base led to claims of a cover-up. This website is managed by the Public Affairs Office. Members of the 144th Medical Detachment 1 recently completed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region IX California Homeland Response Force (HRF) external evaluation March 30, 2023, at Camp Roberts, California. An F-15C air-to-air combat jet was placed on alert in case of unrest over the pandemic or election, sources and records say. 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. The vast majority means all of you, except for a couple of you, and they know who they are so we don't need to call them out. 144th Fighter Wing - AF Except When Its Not. He says new rules instituted in 2016 might make the incident a more serious crime, which would've brought in more seasoned investigators. They didn't identify any suspects and eventually got rid of the urine without ever testing it for DNA. SACRAMENTO, Calif. Grand juries in Fresno and Sacramento have indicted eight current or former members of the California National Guard, in seven separate cases, charging them with wire fraud for fraudulently obtaining recruiting referral bonuses, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison, California Air National Guard commander, addresses service members from participating countries during the opening ceremony for Clear Sky 2018 exercise at Starokostiantyniv Air Base, Ukraine, Oct. 8, 2018. Zakaria: These Revolutions May Help India Really Take off at Last, Future of California at Risk if CEQA Environmental Law Remains Unchanged, California Tax on Booze Would Double if These Activists Get Their Way. Will Political Reality Shape a Mighty Morro Bay Wind? California Governor Jerry Brown and the First Lady also extended their deepest condolences to Nehring's family and friends. 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. A guard spokesman, Lt. Col. Jonathan Shiroma, on Friday confirmed the shake-up, but he did not have additional details. The familiarization flight was part of a joint military training exercise called Clear Sky 2018, which kicked off last week. 144th Fighter Wing - Wikipedia "Back when this happened in 2015, if the Air Force Office of Special Investigation got involved, maybe it would've been handled differently," said the former judge advocate general, or JAG. Fresno Air National Guard Base | Military Wiki | Fandom Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. The Guard reconnaissance aircraft flew over peaceful protests in the upscale community of El Dorado Hills, the location of Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwins home. A guard spokesman on Friday, April 5, 2019, confirmed the shakeup, but did not have additional details. To ensure they are prepared for the task at hand, the 144th Fighter Wing, Security Forces Squadron, trains for Agile Combat Employment at Camp Roberts, California, Feb. 2, 2023. Jerry Brown. The document also cites the cybersecurity episode as grounds for dismissing him, stating that he let a subordinate click through the training questions and obtain a certificate of completion for you., The memo further recounts that a 2021 survey of Guard members found that they experienced significant issues with unit cohesion, good order, and military discipline because of [Magrams] conduct.. Pineda filed a whistleblower complaint, in which she wrote that she feared she'd be forced out of the military because some had speculated that she urinated in her own boots for attention.. Local 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. Police investigating early morning homicide in Porterville, Child among 5 killed by drunk gunman still on loose: TX police, 1 missing, 2 rescued after getting swept away in Kaweah River. Both were inconclusive, and the case was closed. Fresno-based fighter pilot killed in Ukraine identified as Lt. Col Members of the 144th's security forces, who police the base, conducted two investigations, according to internal investigative records obtained by the Times. A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle fighter jet assigned to the California Air National Guard's 144th Fighter Wing has made some passes and garnered attention on the internet recently, after . This went on for about two weeks, until he had the training completed by a subordinate. They patrol state airspace and stand ready to respond to natural disasters and large-scale terrorist attacks. The guards function as state militias whose leaders report to their respective governors. The 20,000-member Guard, a branch of the California Military Department, which is also led by the adjutant general, serves a dual mission that includes responding to emergencies in the state,. FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - The skies above Super Bowl LVI were safe Sunday thanks to tactical fighter aircraft based in Fresno. Most of the allegations against Magram were first disclosed in a Times report in June. (559) 454-5274 All Rights Reserved. FRESNO AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, CA -- The 144th Fighter Wing welcomed the arrival of two F-117 Nighthawk aircraft Sept 13, 2021 to the Fresno Air National Guard Base, California, to conduct dissimilar air combat training missions. To find out about jobs in the Air National Guard check out: https://www.goang.com/ Public Affairs This website is managed by the Public Affairs Office. Oops! Dont Put Plastic Bags in That Blue Recycling Cart! Air National Guard - ABC30 Fresno Jones began his career as a jet engine mechanic in the Nevada Air National Guard. News, Latest The report was prepared by Brig. 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. 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." Garrison and Kelly did not respond to interview requests. They patrol state airspace and stand ready to respond to natural disasters and large-scale terrorist attacks. California California Air National Guard removes commander over threats against whistleblowers A third high-ranking officer in the California Air National Guard has been removed from. Club One Casino Readies Move to Granite Park, Fresno Scandal Forces Out Air National Guard Commander, Fresno State Announces Class of 2023 Graduate Deans' Medalists. 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." Entertainment Forensic analysts say urine can be tested for DNA, but it degrades faster than other tissue and bodily fluids. It all happened under his watchful eye, but he was not alone in allowing this to happen.. The vast majority of you are good people who are killing it in a high ops tempo year, you're very honorable, red-blooded Americans, Sikora said at the meeting, according to the report. Latest, Latest Gen. 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), U.S. airman killed in training exercise in Ukraine confirmed from 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno. 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. A recent spate of alleged misconduct by high-ranking officers underscores the need for reform in Californias National Guard, current and former Guard members say. You must meet certain enlistment criteria to qualify for the Air National Guard. Videos Show F-117 Stealth Jets in California Decade After Retirement 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. She wanted the DNA test to clear her name. Federal investigators on Thursday arrested a 21-year-old air national guardsman who they believe is linked to a trove of leaked classified U.S . California Air National Guard removes commander over threats against The evidence included Pineda's boots and a vial of urine collected from the bathroom floor that was never tested for DNA. Maj. Gen. David Baldwin, who oversees both the air and army branches of the California Guard as adjutant general of the Military Department, was unavailable for comment, Keegan said. Sgt. Published Apr 7, 2019 3:26 PM EDT. In early 2019, a Times report disclosed internal complaints of reprisals against whistleblowers and allegations of a cover-up of misconduct among the Guard leadership. The Times reported last year that an internal inquiry substantiated allegations that Brig. Clear Sky brings together more than 950 personnel from Ukraine and eight NATO nations. Members of the 144ths security forces conducted two investigations, according to internal investigative records obtained by the Times. One of the jets was a single-engine F-16C Fighting . F-15 Eagle, 'right aircraft for the mission - The National Guard NORTH DIGHTON, Mass. The command change follows aLos Angeles Timesreport on allegations that whistleblowers at the guard's Fresno base suffered reprisals for questioning actions or conduct, including an incident in which a female guard member discovered urine in her boots. National Guard scandals include sexual misconduct, coverups, reprisals 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. Alene Tchekmedyian And Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times, Times investigation two months ago that detailed the whistleblower allegations, Who urinated in her boots? 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. Stunning 4K videos show F-117s operating in California more than a decade after the stealth jet retired. Fresno Weather: Its a Dry Heat. Gavin Newsoms office and Baldwins successor, Maj. Gen. Matthew Beevers, the Guards acting adjutant general. The Fresno Air National Guard base is home to the 144th . The Air Force says that Nehring was handpicked to take part in Clear Sky due to his more than 20-year career as a pilot flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-15 Eagle aircraft. It is the first official organic story about the F-117's operations since the aircraft was retired in 2008: The 144th Fighter Wing welcomed the arrival of two F-117 Nighthawk aircraft Sept 13, 2021. She wanted the DNA test to clear her name. Several Guard members took Sikora's remarks as a criticism of people who had filed complaints with the inspector general.
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