It is a time of transition in the 127th Wing, with new aircraft and missions on the near horizon, with today’s missions still at hand.
The 127th Wing is actively recruiting potential new Airmen to join the team.
Among the most recent recruits are five people who have sworn in and will serve as crew chiefs on the Wing’s A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft and will be among those who transition to serve to support the Wing’s conversion from the A-10 to the new F-15EX Eagle II, which will begin to be delivered to the Wing in 2028. Each of the five, who spent the first weekend in November serving at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, said they are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead as they begin their military careers.
Kevin Noe signed up to serve as a crew chief for the A-10s, which are flown by the 107th Fighter Squadron and maintained by the 127th Maintenance Squadron and 127th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Selfridge. He said he wanted to serve in the Air National Guard while attending college and then to apply to become a pilot and hopefully serve on active duty with the Air Force upon graduation.
“The Guard is a good way to go while you are still in school,” he said.
The Michigan Air National Guard provides a number of avenues of support for college students, including the Michigan National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program, known as MINGSTAP, which provides up to $14,400 per year in tuition funding for Guard personnel working toward a bachelor degree.
Andrew Hauk had been working in theater design and decided he wanted to go back to school for an engineering degree. Exploring options, he decided on enlisting in the Michigan Air National Guard to help finance his education.
“It is an opportunity to serve and to do something worthwhile,” he said.
Easton Anderson’s father and grandfather are both Air Force veterans. Continuing that tradition was important to him. As a civilian, he works as an engineer in the defense industry, for a company involved in the design and manufacture of jet aircraft engines.
“As a crew chief, I will get to be directly involved in the full process of aircraft operations,” he said.
Marie Ronny was in the 10th grade when she took a field trip to a Tuskegee Airmen program at Coleman A. Young International Airport in Detroit. There, she learned about some of the history of the famed all-black World War II era Airmen and also learned about the Air National Guard.
Ronny – who has designs on working as an inventor and is working on a program that can turn air pollution into diamonds – said the story of the Tuskegee Airmen sparked an interest that has never left her.
“Getting to work on and around the aircraft is a tremendous opportunity,” she said.
Benjamin Weber spent three years as a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol, an Air Force auxiliary that has an extensive program for high school aged teens and beyond.
“I have an uncle who flew F-15s. I have two cousins who fly on active duty. I want to be a part of that,” he said.
Air Force crew chiefs are responsible for the overall maintenance and repair of aircraft. They inspect, troubleshoot, and repair aircraft systems, components, and engines. They also perform pre-flight and post-flight inspections and ensure that all aircraft are in compliance with safety regulations.
The five new enlistees are all currently a part of the 127th Wing’s Student Flight program, a preparation for attending Air Force Basic Military Training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas. Following BMT, each will attend a technical school, at Shepherd Air Force Base, also in Texas, before returning to Selfridge as apprentice level crew chiefs. On the job training at Selfridge will allow the Airmen to become fully qualified in their military profession.
For more information about careers and opportunities in the Michigan Air National Guard, contact the 127th Wing recruiting office at 586-239-5511.