146th Airlift Wing holds groundbreaking construction ceremony for first Air National Guard C-130J simulator in the western region Published Jan. 5, 2023 146th Airlift Wing CHANNEL ISLANDS AIR NATIONAL GUARD STATION, Calif. -- Members of the media are invited to attend the groundbreaking construction ceremony for the Weapons Systems Trainer Reconfigurable C-130J (WST 12R) flight simulator at the Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, Port Hueneme, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m, Thursday, January 5. WST 12R's training capabilities will generate more suitable opportunities for training among the C-130J community while leveraging the logistical benefits of WST 12R's location, making it a strategic asset for the State of California, the California Military Department, and the entire C-130J community. WST 12R is the first-of-its-kind, rapidly configurable, C-130J flight simulator showcasing numerous training profiles for multiple C-130J aircraft available in the western region of the United States. In addition, WST 12R can facilitate multiple block configurations to support specific training required by aircrews flying HC-130J and the 'slick' C-130J aircraft. Additionally, WST 12R is the first simulator to provide Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) flight profiles that closely simulate flight, weight, and atmospheric conditions that MAFFS crews encounter during wildland fire suppression efforts from the air. Media will see a small gold shovel groundbreaking ceremony in front of the future construction site as well as hear our commander, Col. Lisa A. Nemeth, say a few words regarding the ceremony. Please respond by January 5 if you plan on attending the ceremony. We request that you arrive no later than 30 minutes prior, as media will be required to be escorted onto the installation. Please contact the Channel Islands Air National Guard Public Affairs Office with any questions or concerns at 805-986-7420 or nicholas.carzis@us.af.mil.