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WASHINGTON (March 8, 2024) — Retired Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn, the NGAUS president, issued the following statement on the Air Force decision to remove the flying unit from the Maryland Air National Guard’s 175th Wing:
“The Air Force decision announced yesterday to convert the Maryland Air National Guard’s 175th Wing from a flying unit to a cyber-only mission squanders some of the U.S. military’s most experienced pilots and maintainers at a time when such talent is in short supply.
“The announcement came as airmen and A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft of the wing’s 104th Fighter Squadron are preparing to deploy to the Middle East in support of U.S. Central Command later this month. This is testament to their critical importance to the nation’s defense today.
“But unlike their active-component counterparts who move every few years, Air National Guardsmen have deep ties to their communities. Most have civilian jobs. They cannot pick up and go to a new base easily. The Air Force must bring planes to them.
“This has been the case for the 175th Wing for generations, and the arrangement has served the nation well. The wing has flown multiple aircraft since its establishment as the 104th Observation Squadron in 1921, often in combat or in the defense of U.S. air sovereignty.
“This decision makes no sense in this era of Great Power Competition. Air Force officials are actually pushing the 175th Wing’s flying personnel out of the service when the U.S. military is critically short of skilled pilots and maintainers.”
Reporters, Editors & Producers: Retired Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn is available for interviews or to appear as a subject matter expert on issues related to the National Guard. Contact John Goheen at 202-408-5882 to schedule an interview or appearance.
NGAUS: The association was created in 1878 to provide united Guard representation in Washington. In their first productive meeting after Reconstruction, militia officers from the North and South formed the association with the goal of obtaining better equipment and training by educating Congress on militia requirements. Today, 146 years later with more than 45,000 members nationwide, NGAUS has the same mission.
