Tag Archives: maffs

August 2023: National Guard

This is just a little bit of what the various U.S. state’s National Guard units were tasked with in August, 2023.

On 29AUG2023, Florida Army National Guard’s 868th Engineer Company deployed to clear fallen trees in residential areas, in Suwannee County. About 5-thousand-5-hundred National Guard personnel have been deployed. Video by Sergeant Marc Morgenstern (edited by me):

On 29AUG2023, Florida Army National Guard’s 868th Engineer Company deployed to clear the roads in Suwannee County.  Video by Sergeant Marc Morgenstern (edited by me):

West Virginia Air National Guard 130th Air Wing’s (aka Charlie West) C-130J-30 Super Hercules conducted ‘turnarounds’ on an abandoned coal mine, 25AUG2023. The former coal mine is now called Camp Branch Drop and Landing Zone (near Logan), and is now used by the military.  Video by Senior Master Sergeant Eugene Crist:

After five days of grueling events, on 18AUG2023 U.S. Army Forces Command (ForsCom) announced the winner of its Best Squad competition: Idaho Army National Guard’s 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team (‘Snake River Brigade’)!

Four West Virginia Air National Guard 130th Airlift Wing C-130J-30 cargo planes trained for the September Fly Away Readiness Exercise-Validation (FLARE-V). Video by Airman First Class Kaden Salmons, recorded on 17AUG2023:

Michigan Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Patrick Mayabb, 16AUG2023.

On 16AUG2023, Michigan Army National Guard’s 125th Infantry Regiment returned from a yearlong deployment to Syria.

On 16AUG2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Protective Service (FPS) Police and the Oregon National Guard’s 102nd Civil Support Team joined with the city of Eugene Police Department and Fire Department, as well as other organizations, conducted training to prepare for Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) threats and other hazardous incidents at sporting events.

Nevada Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Paula Macomber, 16AUG2023.

Nevada Air National Guard’s 152nd Airlift Wing deployed their C-130H MAFFS (Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System), after being activated on 16AUG2023 by the Boise, Idaho, based National Interagency Fire Center.

From 14 through 17 August, the ‘New England’ area Air National Guard CERFP (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and high-yield Explosive Enhanced Force Package) Detachment 1 conducted a HazMat/CBRN disaster response evaluation involving decontamination of survivors, on Joint Base Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Video by Air National Guard Technical Sergeant Victoria Nelson (edited by me):

New York Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Jonathan Pietrantoni, 16AUG2023.

From 12 through 16 August, the New York Army National Guard’s 466th Area Support Medical Company worked alongside Brazilian Army peers during Operation Paraná-3 in the State of Parana, Brazil.

Kentucky Army National Guard photo by Milt Spalding, 14AUG2023.

On 14AUG2023, personnel with Kentucky Army National Guard’s Headquarters/Headquarter’s Battery-138th Field Artillery Brigade said goodbye as they deployed to Kuwait/Iraq/Syria (Operation Spartan Shield).

On 14AUG2023, Hawaii Army National Guard personnel joined with Regular Army (RA) and Army Reserve units in deploying to Maui, under JTF 5-0 (Joint Task Force 5-0), in response to the Lahaina Fire.

The New York and Utah Army National Guard joined together and cooked meals for the thousands of personnel, from across the U.S., who attended the Northern Strike wargame on Camp Grayling, in Michigan. Video by Sergeant Alan Prince, 11AUG2023:

Militia personnel with the Iowa Air & Army National Guard conducted a joint ‘domestic’ exercise (climate disasters, social rebellion, etc) at Camp Dodge from 07-10 August 2023.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Joseph Morgan, 08AUG2023.

On 08AUG2023, after a yearlong deployment to Kuwait/Iraq/Syria (Operation Spartan Shield), hundreds of Idaho Army National Guard 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team personnel began their return home.

During August 2023, the Oregon National Guard went to Viet Nam to learn about sea walls, and other forms of natural disaster management. Oregon is one of the U.S. Pacific Coast states in the ‘line-of-fire’ for the next catastrophic Cascadia Event (massive earthquake & tsunami). Video interview by Sergeant First Class Timothy Hughes:

Montana National Guard photo by Captain Jonathan Hamm, 06AUG2023.

On 06AUG2023, Montana Army National Guard’s 1889th Regional Support Group deployed to Kuwait/Iraq/Syria (Operation Inherent Resolve).

Pennsylvania Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Alexander Farver, 04AUG2023.

Pennsylvania‘s Air and Army National Guard conducted the weekend wargame Iron Keystone, 04-06AUG2023.  It was the first time that three of Pennsylvania’s Air Guard Wings took part in the state wargame.

Alaska Army National Guard photo by Chief Warrant Officer-2 Ben Haulenbeek, 03AUG2023.

Alaska Army National Guard deployed their UH-60L Black Hawks to wildfire duty.  The order came from the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection routed through the State Emergency Operations Center.

Indiana Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Hector Tinoco, 03AUG2023.

On 03AUG2023, Indiana Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion-163rd Field Artillery Regiment returned home after being deployed to Iraq.

On 03AUG2023, the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing deployed one of their C-130H MAFFS from Cheyenne to Klamath Falls Airtanker Base, Oregon, to assist with fire fighting operations across the Pacific Coast of the United States. The deployment order came from the National Interagency Fire Center based in Boise, Idaho. Video by Senior Airman Edward Hermsen:

Ohio Air National Guard photo by Airman First Class Sarah Stalder Lundgren, 03AUG2023.

Ohio Air National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing board a C-17 Globemaster-III, 03AUG2023, deploying to Volk Field Air National Guard Base in Wisconsin, for wargame Northern Lightning.

The ‘pland-emic’ paranoia has had unexpected negative effect; the number of licensed foster care families in Nevada has been cut in half! Now the desperate state of Nevada has turned to its National Guard personnel to deal with a growing problem of lack of foster care parents: “Children in foster care need strong and supportive caregivers who are willing to work with biological families and the Department of Family Services to reunite children with their families. Historically, military families and individuals have proven to be the type of special people who provide loving and stable homes to support children.”-Allyson Manumaleuna, Foster Care Recruitment and Training for Clark County Department of Family Services

Michigan Air National Guard photo by Tom Demerly, 02AUG2023.

On 02AUG2023, Michigan‘s Air National Guard prepped for a possible ‘active shooter’ incident on Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

On 01AUG2023, about 50 militia personnel of the Oklahoma Air & Army National Guard deployed to the Texas/Mexico border, under operation Task Force Minuteman. Every month, the Task Force personnel will be refreshed with about 50 more state militia personnel. Video report by Sergeant Reece Heck:

August 2023: TEXAS MILITIA: The Texas Military Department had a birthday, jumping from helicopters in Kosovo, never ending border patrols.

UTAH MILITIA: A presidential campaign visit, ‘blackout’ medical training in the country of Australia, prepping to deploy to the continent of Africa, jumping from helicopters, blowing-up Michigan!

July, 2023: WYOMING’S 1ST EVER VIGILANT GUARD, CATASTROPHIC COLLAPSE, SOCIAL UPHEAVAL!

June, 2023:  NATIONAL GUARD PREPS FOR ‘BIG ONE’ IN THE WABASH VALLEY, RIOTS & CBRN EVENTS EXPECTED!

U.S. Disaster: Vid-Fest of M-A-F-F-S prepping for 2023 wildfire season!

15 April 2023 (13:57-UTC-07 Tango 06) 26 Farvardin 1402/24 Ramadan 1444/25 Bing-Chen 4721/15 апреля 2023 года

Wyoming Air National Guard photo by by Senior Airman Edward Hermsen, 11APR2023.

This past week, Air National Guard C-130H MAFFS units from Nevada (152nd Airlift Wing) and Wyoming (153rd Airlift Wing)  joined California’s 146th Airlift Wing on Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, for their yearly wildfire preparations.

MAFFS air crews get a quick explanation of how the fire retardant is mixed, Nevada Air National Guard video by Master Sergeant Garrett Wake, 11APR2023:

‘Bombing-up’ and testing your MAFFS, video by Master Sergeant Garrett Wake, 11APR2023:

Water-bombing training was conducted in the Angeles National Forest near Green Valley, California.  Personnel from other federal operations such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and CAL FIRE (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection), also took part in the training.

Smoke signaling King Air 250. Nevada Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Paula Macomber, 14APR2023.

King-Air 250 FACs (Forward Air Controllers) lead the MAFFS in, using smoke signals to indicate where to drop the water bomb, video by Master Sergeant Garrett Wake, 12APR2023:

More water bombing video by Master Sergeant Garrett Wake, 12APR2023:

One more in slow motion, video by Master Sergeant Garrett Wake, 12APR2023:

Engine maintenance is always a must, Nevada Air National Guard video by Master Sergeant Garrett Wake, 14APR2023:

Wyoming Air National Guard photo by by Senior Airman Edward Hermsen, 14APR2023.

Nevada Air National Guard video, by Master Sergeant Garrett Wake, unloading MAFFS from C-130H, 14APR2023:

U.S. Wildfire 2022: C-130 MAFFS DEPLOYED, IDAHO SUFFERS MOST FIRES/ACRES BURNED IN THE U.S.!

U.S. Wildfire 2021: WYOMING & COLORADO ACTIVATES MAFFS, NEVADA’S MAFF MISSION EXTENDED!

MASSIVE MAFFS PREP for WILDFIRE 2021

2020: MAFFS BIRD FLIES PANDEMIC VENTILATORS TO NEW YORK AND ALL POINTS EAST

Idaho Wildfires 2019: BRAND NEW KING AIR 250 F-A-C

2017: IDAHO CONDUCTS MASSIVE MAFFS TRAINING, IN PREPS FOR HOT WILDFIRE SEASON!

FEMALE PILOT TELLS YOU WHY SHE FLIES MAFFS

2016: 45 YEARS OF C-130 MAFFS OPS. WHO WOULD’VE KNOWN WILDFIRES WOULD BECOME SUCH A PROBLEM?

Idaho Wildfires 2012: MAFFS C-130S RETURN TO POCATELLO AIRPORT, IDAHO NATIONAL GUARD JOINS BATTLE! IDAHO & CALIFORNIA HAVE THE MOST FIRES!

Idaho ends Vehicle emission testing, the Air is too clean, despite those dirty Domestic Migrants?

08 October 2022 (12:30-UTC-07 Tango 06) 16 Mehr 1401/12 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1444/13 Geng-Xu 4720/08 октября 2022 года

Most regions of The Gem State have such clean air that there is no vehicle emission testing.  An area known as The Treasure Valley (aka Greater Boise Metro Area), however, has vehicle emission testing (and it’s the main reason registration fees are noticeably higher), since 1984.

The Treasure Valley is in the region of Southwestern Idaho, it encompasses the counties of Ada, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Kuna and Owyhee.  The area is geographically a ‘bowl’, and experiences a lot of atmospheric inversions which hold down all kinds of air pollutants, not just those from ground vehicles.

The massively polluting ‘Air Force One’ (Boeing 747) delivered President Biden to Gowen Field/Boise Airport, 13 SEP2021. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Joshua C. Allmaras.

The Treasure Valley is also home to the busiest airport in Idaho; Boise Airport, which is also used by the aircraft of the Idaho National Guard (known as Gowen Field) and by the U.S. Navy (known as Gowen Field Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center).

U.S. Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, F/A-18 Hornet, parked next to the Jackson Jet Center, Boise Airport, 19OCT2020. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Levi Voss.

Boise Airport is also home base for the National Interagency Fire Center, which includes fire fighting water bomber aircraft.

A Wyoming Air National Guard C-130 MAFFS fire fighting aircraft performs a water drop east of Boise, 21APR2017. Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Maj. Jolene Bottor-Ortiona.

Elmore County is home to the U.S. Air Force’s Mountain Home Air Base.

A U.S. Air Force Reserve C-130H Hercules operated out of Mountain Home AFB, spraying plant killing chemicals, 23SEP2020. It was an attempt to reduce wildfires by killing-off Cheatgrass. USAFR photo by Senior Airman Christina Russo.

This is important in regards to air pollution as many studies have shown that the true air polluters in metro areas are busy airports (according to one rabid environmentalist group, global aircraft operations put out enough emissions to be ranked in sixth place behind the top five polluting countries), yet you can’t install emission control devices on a jet turbine, so they continue to blame piston engined ground vehicles which produce only a fraction of the pollution that a turbine can generate upon take-off (this fact was known way back in the 1970s when the environmentalists succeeded in imposing expensive, yet ineffective, emission control devices on your car).  Do some research, you might discover that most of the highly air polluted areas of the United States just happen to have a lot of busy airports/military bases.

On October 7th, 2022, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced they would no longer require emission testing in Kuna or Canyon counties.  David Luft, a manager with DEQ admitted that “Motor vehicles are becoming cleaner and cleaner burning. They’re manufactured to be cleaner, so emissions testing program isn’t as effective as it used to be in the past.” Heck, even jet turbines have become more cleaner burning since their invention way back in the 1930s-40s.  It is not just the motors becoming cleaner burning, the fuels themselves are being refined, within the U.S., to a standard that makes them burn cleaner than they did 50 years ago (and this is outside of California’s police-state environmental regulations).

A U.S. Navy parachutist jumped from a perfectly good airplane, into the relatively (compared to other U.S. metro areas) clean air over Boise, 25AUG2010. U.S. Navy photo by James Woods.

But in the state capitol of Boise, in Ada County, emission testing will continue because it is a city law!  Despite it being city law, state DEQ officials are pushing Boise officials to end that law, especially since the state legislature ended state level emission testing back in March!

So far the only people protesting such a move are the owner/operators of emission testing stations, many of those testing stations are actually mobile vans.

David Luft also admitted that air pollutants in Idaho have been on the decline for years and that it will continue to decline even without emission testing: “Even without that program, on-road-motor-vehicle emissions will continue to decline through 2040.”

However, in 2020 Idaho was ranked as having the highest percentage increase in carbon emissions, but that was blamed on all the new people moving to the Boise area, and it was pointed out that Idaho’s air is so clean to begin with that any increase looks bad: “Idaho is one of the fastest-growing states. And you’re going to see… some level of increased carbon emissions….. Since Idaho is already starting with low carbon emissions, a relatively small increase results in a higher percentage increase.”-Tiffany Floyd, DEQ

Hunger Games 2022:

WHY ARE U.S. TAXPAYER FUNDED HUMANITARIAN RATIONS BEING SOLD TO THE PUBLIC IN IDAHO?

2021: CANADIAN GOLD-DIGGERS ALLOWED TO RIP-UP IDAHO FORESTS!

 MEXICAN DRUG WAR TARGETS SOUTHEAST IDAHO, MORE THAN 200% INCREASE! CONNECTION TO PANDEMIC?

2019:

Photo by AAron B. Hutchins, July 2019.

IDAHO’S BRIDGE TO NOWHERE?

2016: “IT’S PART OF OUR NEW BUSINESS MODEL…” IDAHO HIT WITH SKYROCKETING POOR U.S. MIGRANTS!

2015: IDAHO LOSES JOBS DESPITE RECORD NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN WORKFORCE, UNEMPLOYMENT RATE REMAINS THE SAME? BLAME IMMIGRANTS!

U.S. Wildfire 2022: C-130 MAFFS deployed, Idaho suffers most fires/acres burned in the U.S.!

From the week ending 10SEP2022:

According to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), based in Boise, Idaho leads the nation with 34 reported wildfires, as well as the most acreage burned.

10SEP2022, family moving onto their new property in Northern Idaho discover they are surrounded by wildfires:

09SEP2022, two suspected arsonists arrested:

09SEP2022, Bannock County 2 & 1/2 MILE FIRE, HISTORY REPEATS?

09SEP2022, Moose Fire burns more than 125-thousand acres, largest fire currently in the U.S., been burning since July:

On 09SEP2022, at the request of the NIFC, two Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS) equipped C-130s were deployed to Boise Airport (Gowen Field) for fire fighting duties.  One is a C-130H Hercules (upgraded with the eight bladed prop) from Nevada Air National Guard, the other is a C-130J Super Hercules from California Air National Guard.  The last time C-130s went to Boise Airport was in April 2022, for yearly MAFFS training.  The two MAFFS equipped C-130s will remain on-station until 08OCT2022, unless another NIFC request is issued.

09SEP2022, Four Corners Fire update:

09SEP2022, Blaine County’s Ross Fork Fire (not to be confused with last month’s Ross Fork Fire in Bannock County) still only 2% contained:

09SEP2022, Jerome County declares state of emergency as a result of a new fire:

08SEP2022, Rainbow Fire:

08SEP2022, air quality warnings issued:

08SEP2022, electrical power cut as mine operations are evacuated:

07SEP2022, Idaho Power (a for-profit utility company) now blames wildfires for causing power shortages in Idaho:

06SEP2022, Sagehen Fire borders Bingham and Caribou Counties:

04SEP2022, Limelight Fire destroys 26 low income homes:

Idaho, August 2022: What timing as Pocatello Airport’s U.S. Forest Service Air Tanker base is back online after extensive upgrades!

U.S. Wildfire 2021: IDAHO UPDATE, 15 AUGUST

FOR FIRST TIME, IDAHO MOBILIZES MILITIA (National Guard) FOR FIRE DUTY!

WYOMING & COLORADO ACTIVATES MAFFS, NEVADA’S MAFF MISSION EXTENDED!

U.S. Wildfire 2017:

C-130 aircraft from three National Guard units and a U.S. Air Force Reserve unit arrive on Gowen Field (Boise Airport), Idaho, 20APR2017. California Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Nieko Carzis.

IDAHO CONDUCTS MASSIVE MAFFS TRAINING, IN PREPS FOR HOT WILDFIRE SEASON!

Southeast Idaho Wildfire 2012:

A couple of Neptunes awaiting orders, on the tarmac at Pocatello Airport. Photo by AAron B. Hutchins, July 2012.

BUSY 30 MINUTES AT POCATELLO AIR TANKER BASE, AS FIRE FIGHTING AIRCRAFT FLY INTO ACTION

U.S. Disaster 2022: U.S. military vehicles under fire! Grateful child thanks National Guard as fire approaches homes!

An incomplete list of fire reports from across the United States, as of 27 April 2022:

National Weather Service (NWS) predicts drier than expected year: “I’ve been with the National Weather Service for over 20 years, and I’ve never seen the winter storm door just slam shut like that. It’s very unsettling.”-Chris Smallcomb, NWS Reno

ALASKA: More than 10-thousand acres burned!

ARIZONA: New Wildfire in Arizona Adds to Several Burning in Dry Southwest

People being arrested for trying to go back to their homes:

Evacuation orders ended

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation uses Arizona wildfires to warn Canadians:

CALIFORNIA: Sheep being used to prevent wildfires:

California Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Michelle Ulber, 21APR2022.

It was revealed on 21APR2022, that California Air National Guard increased the size of fire-retardant ground storage tanks on Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, Port Hueneme.  The new tanks increased the storage capacity from a 10-thousand gallons to 50-thousand gallons, to accommodate more MAFFS (Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System) aircraft and the U.S. Forest Service’s Very Large Air Tankers (VLAT).

Video, by Master Sergeant Nieko Carzis, of California Air National Guard prepping their C-130Js for MAFFS operations, 19APR2022:

COLORADO: Pueblo West Fire Department prepping homeowners on how to save their homes!

Boulder City Council considers ways to prep for massive fire season!

Colorado Division of Fire Prevention/Control and the Colorado Army National Guard conclude a more intense fire training:

U.S. Air Force Reserve C-130H transports, on Peterson Space Force Base, are prepped for MAFFS operations, 21APR2022. Music video by Technical Sergeant Justin Norton:

FLORIDA: Port Charlotte Fire aftermath

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Anabel Del Valle, 11APR2022.

Tyndall Air Force Base began using a new modular fire station, 11APR2022.

IDAHO: Bannock County one of several already under USDA Drought Disaster declaration!

California Air National Guard C-130J tests its MAFFS while on Gowen Field, Idaho, 25APR2022. California Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Michelle Ulber.

Gowen Field, Idaho, conducted 2022 MAFFS training for C-130 crews.  (April 2017: MAFFS BOMBS IDAHO!)

Nevada Air National Guard sent two C-130H aircraft to Idaho for MAFFS prepping. Nevada Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Thomas Cox, 26APR2022.

NEBRASKA: Drought will intensify fire season

Road 702 fire 74% contained

Retired fire chief killed by wildfire!

Video of Road 702 wildfire, from 23-24APR2022, by Nebraska State Patrol:

Photo via Captain Joshua Miller.

Nebraska Army National Guard HEWATT (M1158 HEMTT Water Tender) attacks the Road 702 fire, 24APR2022.

Home video, 24APR2022, showing Nebraska Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk dropping water on flames near Willow County homes, a child is heard saying “thank you!”:

Earlier, a U.S. Air Force HMMWV, from F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, got caught in the Road 702 fire and didn’t survive (the crew did survive), USAF video by Airman Landon Gunsauls:

NEW MEXICO: Cleaning up after several wildfires

New fires, evacuation orders:

TENNESSEE: Video (bad audio) of Tennessee Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk responding to wildfires, 01APR2022:

TEXAS: 

JBSA-Camp Bullis fire, USAF photo by Brian Boisvert, 09APR2022.

By 10APR2022, the Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis fire was considered 50% contained.

WASHINGTON: Spokane Valley Fire Department begging homeowners to fire proof their properties:

U.S. Disaster, March 2022: LABOR SHORTAGE RESULTS IN MERGING OF MILITARY/CIVILIAN FIRE DEPARTMENTS!

MAFFS bird flies ventilators to New York and all points East

MAFFS=Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System

California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing used their firefighting MAFFS C-130J to fly 2-hundred ventilators to Stewart Air National Guard Base, New York, 07APR2020.

The ventilators will be equally split for use between the states of New Jersey and New York.

But it’s not just New Jersey and New York that’re getting ventilators delivered by California Air Guard.  Illinois, Delaware, Maryland, and Washington DC, will be splitting another 3-hundred California ventilators.

In this 06APR2020 video interview you’ll learn that the personnel involved in packing and shipping the ventilators had no notice and didn’t even know where the ventilators were being sent to:

Video of load-up of C-130J MAFFS on 06APR2020 (bad audio at beginning):

CDC, JOHN HOPKINS, WIKIPEDIA, NEWS MEDIA+FLU VS COVID DATA=SOMEBODY IS LYING

DOES THE ‘C’ IN C-130 STAND FOR COVID?

STOP YOUR BITCHIN’! FEMALE PILOT TELLS YOU WHY SHE FLIES MAFFS

MAFFS BOMBS IDAHO!

Stop your bitchin’! Female pilot tells you why she flies MAFFS

24 April 2017 (15:03 UTC-07 Tango 06) 03 Ordibehest 1396/26 Rajab 1438/28 Jia Chen 4715

“The U.S. Forest Service has always been a strong partner with the Department of Defense when it comes to firefighting. This is probably one of the clearest examples of the benefits of using military aircraft in a civil support role and the U.S. Forest Service is the agency that does it the best. The U.S. Forest Service and the four airlift wings within the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve have really figured it out, with everything from logistics to funding, to execution, to standardization and the direct result is we save American lives and property using military crews and equipment in a civil support role. We’ve really built a strong partnership with the U.S. Forest Service over the last 44 years.”-Colonel Bryan Allen, Air Expeditionary Group

MAFFS training in Idaho concluded on 24 APR 2017, with a total of 121 sorties, 124 flight hours & 373,900 gallons of water dropped!

Video interview with Captain Melissa Emmett on Gowen Field, Idaho, 22 APR 2017:

“We have recognized the benefits to combine training periodically for operational consistency and standardization, not only with the air wings but for our personnel, as well. The compelling reason to do a combined training again this year was the integration of the 152nd Airlift Wing, from Reno, into the MAFFS mission. We know we have a window of opportunity to get Reno proficient. The speed to that proficiency is important. When you have this kind of setting, with all four wings together, it provides a more complete setting to meet that objective.”-Kim Christensen, U.S. Forest Service

Video interview with Staff Sergeant Kelsey Herzfeld on Gowen Field, Idaho, 22 APR 2017:

IDAHO FEMALE BECOMES 1ST EVER U.S. PANZERFRÄULEIN!

“THIS IS WHERE ARMOR FIGHTS!”  FIRST FEMALE COMBAT MECHANIC!

WHO SAID WOMEN ARE PACIFISTS? MEET SOME OF THE 2,000 FEMALE SNIPERS IN SYRIA!

BOASTFUL FEMALE OWNED COMPANY LOOSES CONTRACT “DUE TO UNPROFESSIONALISM”!

Obama assassinates U.S. female reporter for revealing true origins of Islamic State

MAFFS: What does it take to maintain a flying military firetruck?

23 April 2017 / 23:49 UTC-07 Tango 06  (03 Ordibehest 1396/26 Rajab 1438/28 Jia Chen 4715)

Susan Kett of U.S. Forest Service, David Lafon of North Carolina Forest Service and Robert Wheatley from CAL FIRE, on the flightline at Gowen Field, Idaho.

Technical Sergeant Miguel Corona, 146th Maintenance Squadron California National Guard, inspects the flight deck of a C-130J at Gowen Field, Idaho.

Tech. Sgt. Kye Dudley, 146th Maintenance Squadron California National Guard, inspects main wheel wells of a C-130J at Gowen Field, Idaho.

Senior Airman Santos Casaus operates ground generator that will provide electrical power to a sleeping C-130J, Gowen Field, Idaho.

Staff Sgt. Joseph Perez inspects the prop of a C-130J at Gowen Field, Idaho. If oil is leaking from the prop hub the whole propeller assembly must be replaced.

Even transports use HUDs (Heads Up Display). Airman 1st Class Alexis Carranza inspects the HUD inside a C-130J at Gowen Field, Idaho, 20 APR 2017.

Tech. Sgt. Miguel Corona inspects an oxygen mask inside of a C-130J.

Fire in the Hole! USAF Staff Sgt. Kelsey Herzfeld, assigned to the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing, preps to connect the MAFFS nozzle to one of two Wyoming Air National Guard MAFFS C-130H. The work was done before leaving for Idaho. The Wyoming Air Militia has been flying MAFFS missions since 1975.

Nevada “High Rollers” C-130H follows a USFS spotter plane over western Idaho, 21 APR 2017.

A MAFFS unit being installed in a C-130H. Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System can dump 3-thousand gallons of water in five seconds!

Video: MAFFS BOMBS IDAHO!

MAFFS bombs Idaho!

23 April 2017 / 18:41 UTC-07 Tango 06  (03 Ordibehest 1396/26 Rajab 1438/28 Jia Chen 4715)

Staff Sgt. Benny Romero, 146th Airlift Wing, California Air Militia, inspects the C-130J’s main landing gear on Gowen Field, Idaho, 20APR2017. U.S. Air Force photo by Major Jolene Ortiona.

MAFFS 9 (C-130H) of 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air Militia, east of Boise, Idaho, 21APR2017. California Air Militia photo by Staff Sergeant Nieko Carzis.

Video of MAFFS practice water drops in western Idaho, 22 APR 2017:

 

MAFFS 2 and MAFFS 5, from Air Force Reserve’s 302nd Airlift Wing, Colorado, on Gowen Field, Idaho, for USFS training.

Nevada Air National Guard MAFFS 8 (C-130H) of 152nd Airlift Wing “High Rollers”, east of Boise, Idaho, 21APR2017. California Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Nieko Carzis.

IDAHO CONDUCTS MASSIVE MAFFS TRAINING, IN PREPS FOR HOT WILDFIRE SEASON!

HOLY VIRTUAL ‘COPTER! IOWA MILITIA 1ST TO USE BAT-cave!

 

Idaho conducts massive MAFFS training, in preps for hot wildfire season!

20 April 2017 / 18:27 UTC-07 Tango 06  (01 Ordibehest 1396/24 Rajab 1438/25 Jia Chen 4715)

“We look forward to this joint training with our military and civilian partners. Training together with all four MAFFS wings alongside U.S. Forest Service and other wildland firefighting agencies here in Boise provides a significant opportunity as we prepare for another challenging wildfire season.”-Colonel Bryan Allen, Air Expedition Group

MAFFS=Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System

More than 4-hundred state National Guard and federal Reserve personnel from California, Colorado, Nevada and Wyoming arrived in Gowen Field, Idaho, for a week of U.S. Forest Service training: “MAFFS have played a critical role in wildfire suppression for more than 40 years by providing surge capacity when commercial airtankers are fully committed or not readily available as they frequently are during periods of high wildfire activity.”-Kim Christensen, USFS

C-130 aircraft from three National Guard units and a U.S. Air Force Reserve unit arrive at Gowen Field, Idaho, 20APR2017. California Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Nieko Carzis.

“Dude!”, 2013 Wyoming militia MAFFS drop:

2013 Wyoming MAFFS load up:

2013 California militia MAFFS drop:

MAFFS: WILDFIRE SEASON 2018 GOING TO BE A HOT ONE?