May Commander's View

CHANNEL ISLANDS AIR NATIONAL GUARD STATION, Calif. -- I hope you and your families have been enjoying your Spring breaks, and taking in all of our beautiful Southern California weather. Even though we are suffering from extreme drought conditions, we need to be thankful that we aren't suffering from the damaging storms, flooding and tornadoes that much of the rest of our country is seeing. Our National Guardsmen are present again this month in the background of our world news events, assisting people in these areas affected by the bizarre weather, and I thank you all for remaining at the ready to respond to the call if needed.

We accomplished our MAFFS training last month and are ready to assist fighting the fires when they start up. Be ready for a very busy season. I want to recognize all of the shops and offices who continue to make our annual MAFFS recertification and training go smoothly, and for providing a seamless inter-agency image to all of the visitors who come out and watch us train.
This month many of our Airmen came out a few days prior to UTA to participate in a very large medical exercise at Camarillo Airport called Operation Medical Base. The Medical Group and the Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron put on a great show alongside many players from Ventura County emergency response agencies. Major General Baldwin, our state's Adjutant General, came out with his staff Friday morning before this UTA to observe. He left with an outstanding impression of wing's capabilities. Training with our civilian counterparts is an integral part of what we do, and we do it well. Keep up all your great work.

Lastly I want to remind you that a large portion of our deployers will be coming home soon. Join me in welcoming them home and thanking them for their service and sacrifice. Big thanks to our Yellow Ribbon team and all they do for the families of those who deployed.

Remember that next month, June, there will be no UTA, although some of you will be participating in the JRSOI. June UTA will be accomplished during our block-training "super-drill" in September, when we knock out a huge chunk of our ancillary training all together at one time. More details of when and how that will happen will be given out soon.

Have a safe and productive UTA, and don't forget to take care of Mom next week!

Blue Skies,
Colonel Bakos