Air National Guard honored in Spokane Published June 7, 2007 By Lt. Col. Nancy Reid 141st Air Refueling Wing FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- The 141st Air Refueling Wing and the City of Spokane are hosting a national conference for Air National Guard Security Forces personnel this week. Mayor Dennis Hession welcomed more than 400 Guardsmen from around the country in an opening session June 4. "We are especially honored by the citizen soldiers that live and work in our community and are our neighbors," the mayor told the group. According to Col. Mark Allen, National Guard Bureau Security Forces Director, "Air National Guard security forces are doing a phenomenal job protecting our resources and personnel. They are involved in manning and testing new technology at the Mexican border; they are actively supporting Air Expeditionary Forces and Operation Iraqi Freedom missions through significant volunteerism and some mobilization; they are conducting convoy training to prepare ANG members deploying overseas, as well as standing up a new mission to protect missile fields with the active duty. "141st Security Forces is one of our premier units performing both air expeditionary and homeland defense missions. Unit personnel have participated in such diverse missions as installation protection, resource protection and detainee movement operations. The unit also set the standard for others by achieving an outstanding rating in its last Operational Readiness Inspection," Colonel Allen added. In addition to the conference, a military and law enforcement tradeshow is being held at the Spokane Convention Center June 4-6 with more than 100 vender booths displaying various law enforcement products. Conference attendees will also participate in a marksmanship competition at Spokane's Police Academy and a 5K run on the Centennial Trail.
