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AETC commander visits Springfield Guardsmen

  • Published
  • By Capt. Lindsay Logsdon
  • 178th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SPRINGFIELD-BECKLEY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, Ohio --  The 178th Fighter Wing and Ohio Air National Guard welcomed the Air Education and Training Command commander during the general's visit to Springfield Feb. 25.

Maj. Gen. Harry W. "A.J." Feucht Jr., Ohio Air National Guard commander, and Col. Mike Roberts, 178th FW commander, greeted Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz, who was visiting the wing as part of his orientation tour of AETC-related units. The 178th FW is one of nine ANG units in which the command has gained or formed an association.

"The 178th Fighter Wing joins the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base and the 149th Fighter Wing at Lackland AFB in training the world's best active duty, Guard and Reserve F-16 pilots," General Lorenz said.

The 178th FW partnered with AETC in 1998 and continues to lead the way in F-16 Fighting Falcon training, he said. This includes the wing's foresight to embed night vision goggle and targeting pod training within the B-course syllabus.

"Feedback from our AETC customers has highlighted the 178th FW's success," General Lorenz said.

General Lorenz's orientation visit included tours of the wing's operations building, the Power Complex maintenance hanger, the simulator building and the engine shop. The general also viewed both the Ohio ANG and Royal Netherlands Air Force areas for education, training and maintenance. While at the 178th FW Engine Shop, Col. Steve Walker, the 178th Maintenance Group commander, introduced General Lorenz to one of the few maintenance teams sustaining two different engines.

During the tour, the general pointed out how the Guard and active duty's training relationship has grown over the past years.

"With new and emerging mission sets, and shrinking manpower and experience levels, the active duty has had to rely on the Guard and Reserves," he said.

Recent examples of this increased reliance include AETC's gain of the 118th Air Wing from Nashville as a Foreign Military Sales C-130 school house and the command's classic association with the 217th Intelligence Training Squadron at Goodfellow AFB, Texas.

Regarding any foreseeable changes in the association between AETC and the ANG, General Lorenz hopes the relationship will continue to grow.

"The AETC missions of education and training are a natural fit for the ANG," he said. "The timing is perfect to meld the requirements of AETC with the capabilities of the ANG. We, AETC and the ANG, need to continue to work together and look for more ways to integrate in the education and training missions.

"The 178th Fighter Wing has demonstrated that it is a very capable partner and the needs of the Air Force will hopefully allow for them to continue with a relevant training mission," General Lorenz said. "Phenomenal mission, phenomenal people and phenomenal facilities."

General Feucht said he was pleased with the tour and the opportunity to show the AETC commander "everything the 178th Fighter Wing has to offer."

"The [178th Fighter Wing] is the model for a base," the Ohio ANG commander said.