The Tennessee Air National Guard (TN ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Tennessee, United States of America. It is, along with the Tennessee Army National Guard, an element of the Tennessee National Guard.
As state militia units, the units in the Tennessee Air National Guard are not in the normal United States Air Force chain of command. They are under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Tennessee though the office of the Tennessee Adjutant General unless they are federalized by order of the President of the United States. The Tennessee Air National Guard is headquartered at Berry Field Air National Guard Base, Nashville, and its commander is Colonel Jason Glass.
Overview
Under the "Total Force" concept, Tennessee Air National Guard units are considered to be Air Reserve Components (ARC) of the United States Air Force (USAF). Tennessee ANG units are trained and equipped by the Air Force and are operationally gained by a Major Command of the USAF if federalized. In addition, the Tennessee Air National Guard forces are assigned to Air Expeditionary Forces and are subject to deployment tasking orders along with their active duty and Air Force Reserve counterparts in their assigned cycle deployment window.
Along with their federal reserve obligations, as state militia units the elements of the Tennessee ANG are subject to being activated by order of the Governor to provide protection of life and property, and preserve peace, order and public safety. State missions include disaster relief in times of earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and forest fires, search and rescue, protection of vital public services, and support to civil defense.
Approximately 1,500 personnel are assigned to both HQ, Tennessee Air National Guard and to the 118 AW at Berry ANGB. Approximately 400 are full-time Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) and Air Reserve Technician (ART) personnel, augmented by approximately 1100 traditional part-time air guardsmen. Approximately 100 additional foreign military personnel are also temporarily assigned to the 118 AW at any one time for training in the C-130E or C-130H aircraft.
Components
The Tennessee Air National Guard includes the following units: 118th Wing Established 4 December 1921 (as: 136th Observation Squadron); currently reequipping with: MQ-9 Reaper Stationed at: Berry Field Air National Guard Base, Nashville Gained by: Air Combat Command
134th Air Refueling Wing
Established 15 December 1957; operates: KC-135R Stratotanker
Stationed at: McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Knoxville
Gained by: Air Mobility Command
The 134th Air Refueling Wing in Knoxville, flying the KC-135 Stratotanker, provides the core aerial refueling capability for the United States Air Force and supports refueling operations throughout the world.
164th Airlift Wing
Established 3 February 1947 (as: 155th Fighter Squadron); operate C-17 Globemaster III Stationed at: Memphis Air National Guard Base, Memphis Gained by: Air Mobility Command The 164th Airlift Wing in Memphis, flies the C-17 Globemaster III , a heavy logistics military transport aircraft designed to provide world-wide strategic airlift. .
Support Unit Functions and Capabilities: I.G. Brown Air National Guard Training and Education Center Established in 1968 as the I.G. Brown Professional Military Education Center. Stationed at McGhee Tyson Airport (tenant activity). It provided extensive leadership training for the Air National Guard. More than 4,200 students per year attend a variety of professional military education courses and skills enhancement training classes in subjects ranging from explosives safety orientation to food services, recruiting, security and expeditionary medical support.
119th Combat Air Control Squadron - McGhee Tyson Airport, Knoxville, Tennessee
228th Combat Communications Squadron - McGhee Tyson Airport, Knoxville, Tennessee 241st Engineering Installation Squadron -Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The 241st Engineering and Installation Squadron mobilizes small detachments of Airmen to deploy alone or with other U.S. Military units. They set up cabling that connects communications, computers, engineering, air traffic control and landing systems at installations worldwide.
History
The Tennessee Air National Guard origins date to 27 August 1917 with the establishment of the 105th Aero Squadron as part of the World War I American Expeditionary Force. The 105th served in France on the Western Front, then after the 1918 Armistice with Germany was demobilized in 1919.