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. ID cardquestions and appointments: 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. She wanted the DNA test to clear her name. In interviews with the Times, several current and former members of the guard described a culture of retaliation by high-ranking officers and mistrust in the inspector general system intended to hold them accountable. DSN 839-5246, Crash Survivors Meet Indiana Airmen Who Rescued Them, Joint, International Southern Strike 2023 Exercise Wraps Up, Alaska Guardsman Helps Keep Pave Hawks Flying, New AF surgeon general program enhances support for EFMP families, Airmen, Guardians, Air Force modernizes nuclear security with advanced JLTV vehicle, Effective June 1, First Term Airmen can retrain into AFSCs under 90% manning in lieu of separation, An official website of the United States government. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. (559) 454-5383 California Air National Guard removes commander over threats against 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. A 144th pilot, Lt. Col. Air Force Picks New Guard Locations for F-35, F-15EX Fighters Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, urinated in a female Guard members boots, use of a spy plane to monitor civilian protesters, deploy a fighter jet to frighten demonstrators, The commander of the scandal-plagued California National Guard steps down, Californias top military brass rocked by homophobia, antisemitism, indecent exposure scandals, Turmoil shakes California National Guard with firing, suspension of top generals, California Guard members feared fighter jet would be ordered to frighten protesters, Spy plane was sent to monitor protest in affluent suburb, home to head of California National Guard, In California National Guard, whistleblower claims of retaliation go beyond Fresno, Head of California Air National Guard removed amid allegations of cover-up and retaliation, California Air National Guard removes commander over threats against whistleblowers, Must Reads: Someone urinated in a female sergeants boots. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Friday's report said that Sikora's conduct also had a chilling effect on Guard members by discouraging them from exercising their rights to seek redress through the organization's inspector general, their representatives in Congress or the news media. "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. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing this? Legendary Valley Thoroughbred Elected to Racing Hall of Fame, Collision Ends Smyly Perfect Game Bid, Cubs Top Dodgers 13-0, Oakland As Set Vegas Move in Motion With Stadium Land Deal, Draymond Greens Suspension Is the Talk of the NBA Playoffs, California California Governor Jerry Brown and the First Lady also extended their deepest condolences to Nehring's family and friends. He also recommended close monitoring of any unfavorable personnel actions against complainants or witnesses in the 144th as possible reprisal. Both were inconclusive, and the case was closed. He said he believed that having subordinates give him rides to medical appointments was consistent with the Air Forces wingman concept, in which Guard members look out for one another. The evidence included Pineda's boots and a vial of urine collected from the bathroom floor that was never tested for DNA. Latest The scandal dates back to March 2015, when Staff Sgt. Jennifer Pineda, a 15-year veteran of the guard, was about to change into her uniform in a womens bathroom at the 144th Fighter Wing when she discovered her boots had been soiled. General requirements include: AGE. Then something changed, Most of Yosemite Valley is closed due to potentially perilous snowpack and flooding, 7 hospitalized after driver in stolen car runs red light in San Bernardino, police say, Barstow police investigating after officer caught on video hitting man with a baton, Man found guilty of murdering teens who ding-dong-ditched his house, Sacramento, San Francisco mayors take shots at each others city before NBA playoff game, Unseasonable rain, cooler temperatures in forecast for Los Angeles this week. 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. Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. Captain Nehring is an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot with California Air National Guard's 194th Fighter Squadron in Fresno. Paul Pringle is a Los Angeles Times reporter who specializes in investigating corruption. 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. FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- If you were near Fresno Yosemite International Airport Wednesday morning, there's a good chance you saw and heard plenty of military aircraft activity. ", By Gen. Tim Rieger, who was tasked by Maj. Gen. David Baldwin, head of the California Military Department, with investigating Sikora's actions. 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. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Allegations of retaliation against whistleblowers in the California National Guard are more widespread than the complaints made at a Fresno air base that led to a dramatic leadership shakeup of the organization earlier this month, The Times has found. The Times reported last year that an internal inquiry substantiated allegations that Brig. Jones was unavailable for comment, Keegan said. 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. Phone: (559) 454-5246 2019 the Los Angeles Times. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. He flew the F-16 Viper for more than 15 years, before converting to the F-15 Eagle. 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. 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. Sikora did not respond to requests for comment Friday. Keegan said the department had lost faith, trust and confidence in Garrison's ability to lead. Jennifer Pineda, a 15-year veteran of the guard, was about to change into her uniform in a women's bathroom at the 144th Fighter Wing when she discovered her boots had been soiled. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. 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. 'Double-dipping' probe targets Air National Guard pilots in Fresno 194th Fighter Squadron - Wikipedia She wanted the DNA test to clear her name. 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. But fellow officers are questioning the investigations, complaining about retaliation for their contributions and a potential cover-up. Sikora's briefing came after The Times began asking questions about alleged retaliation against whistleblowers and the incident in which Staff Sgt. Col. Jeremiah Cruz was named Kelly's interim replacement. 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,. Reached by phone Friday, Pineda said, At this time, I don't have a comment.. Alene Tchekmedyian And Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times Allegations of retaliation against whistleblowers in the California National Guard are more widespread than the complaints made at a Fresno air base that led to a dramatic leadership shakeup of the organization earlier this month, The Times has found. 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 . It's unfortunate that the young people in the California Air National Guard, our citizen soldiers, have to witness this type of activity that's occurring at the top, Bakos said Friday. 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. It's all part of. Several Guard members took Sikora's remarks as a criticism of people who had filed complaints with the inspector general. What Dyer Had to Say. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Local Education Fresno's 144th Fighter Wing hosting training exercise for pilots 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. Local Keegan said Friday he did not know the status of the probe. Responding to a subsequent Times query, the Guard confirmed in June that Hawkins had resigned. At least five Guard members from the 144th Fighter Wing filed formal complaints. 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. Magram said in his statement that he was late in completing the training because of a tremendously busy operational tempo.. Fresno Scandal Forces Out Air National Guard Commander He says new rules instituted in 2016 might make the incident a more serious crime, which would've brought in more seasoned investigators. Fresno Guard pilots who step into an F-16 cockpit might risk their lives or carry in their hands the survival of others and the. News Baldwin has been adjutant general of the Guard since 2011, when he was appointed by then-Gov. Weeks later, the longtime head of the Guard, Maj. Gen. David Baldwin, retired. Magram became the focus of more upheaval last summer, when The Times disclosed that an internal probe found that he had on-duty Guard members drive him up to 120 miles round-trip to personal dental and medical appointments at Travis Air Force Base, according to a confidential report on the inquiry. Fresno Weather: Its a Dry Heat. 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. 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. After queries by The Times, however, the Guard said a second inquiry had substantiated similar allegations against him, and another round of discipline was pending. 2019 the Los Angeles Times. Fresno's 144th Fighter Wing protects skies above Super Bowl Navin denied any involvement, according to Guard records. Baldwin later removed the commander of the Guard's air side, Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison. Both were inconclusive, and the case was closed. Jones has served as assistant adjutant general since December 2017. Magram, who was once director of the Guards 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. 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. One of the jets was a single-engine F-16C Fighting . Baldwin said the fact that he resided in El Dorado Hills, where the protests were small and peaceful, had no bearing on the deployment of the RC-26B reconnaissance plane. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 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 guard spokesman, Lt. Col. Jonathan Shiroma, on Friday confirmed the shake-up, but he did not have additional details. FRESNO AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Calif --. The commander of the scandal-plagued California National Guard steps down
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