127th Wing News

Airmen fuel freedom with every mission

Airman 1st Class Jacob Hessen — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 16:25:00 GMT

Every mission in the sky starts with work on the ground, and that's where the fuel management specialists, also known as petroleum, oils, and lubricants Airmen, come in. Serving with the 127th Logistics Readiness Squadron's Fuels Flight at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, these Airmen are the backbone of the Air Force. POL is a vital career field that ensures the Air Force always has the fuel it needs, keeps the engines running and moves the mission forward. Jet fuel might be the main attraction, but there is more to the job than meets the eye. Fuels Airmen also maintain fuel storage and dispensing systems, ensure inventory accuracy, analyze fuel and cryogenic products, run a lab and maintain a vehicle fleet.

Runway repairs, deployment relocate Selfridge jets

127th Wing Public Affairs — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 17:00:55 GMT

Residents near Selfridge Air National Guard Base noticed less air traffic this summer after approximately 350 Airmen assigned to the 127th Wing’s A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft mission deployed to an undisclosed location in late June. In addition, a runway repair project that began in mid-July, further impacted local flight operations locally, dispersing the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft mission to Detroit Metro Airport, Romulus, and Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport, Gwinn. The 127th Air Refueling Group has cultivated partnerships with civilian airports around the state of Michigan over the past few years as they trained on specialized refueling missions. The temporary relocation of the 127th ARG to other airports this summer has not impacted mission readiness according to U.S. Air Force Col. Leah Voelker, 127th Air Refueling Group commander.

September is National Preparedness Month

Courtesy 127th Emergency Management Flight — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 16:53:09 GMT

As we mark National Preparedness Month this September, it is a great reminder for all of us to evaluate our readiness—both in our personal lives and on duty. The Air Force’s "Be Ready" program offers a wealth of resources designed to help Airmen and their families stay prepared for any emergencies, whether natural disasters or man-made incidents. In addition to the tips below, be sure to know who your Unit Emergency Preparedness Coordinator is, and ensure you are aware of emergency procedures on the installation.

127th Wing Defenders Field Training at Home

Tech. Sgt. Andrew Schumann — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 17:09:00 GMT

SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. — Defenders from the 127th Security Forces Squadron at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan, completed a field training exercise to enhance skills in airfield defense, both at home, and in the deployed environments. The five-day exercise began August 5th, 2024, on tactical grounds located at Selfridge ANGB. More than 40 security forces personnel trained in simulated enemy attacks, perimeter defense, and refreshed skills in the use of tools and vehicles. The training was designed to replicate challenges Security Forces personnel might encounter during a deployment to an austere location, such as limited resources and unpredictable threats.

Michigan Airmen Hone Skills in Germany

SMSgt. Dan Heaton — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 15:11:00 GMT

Michigan Air National Guard Airmen from three career fields honed their skills during a two-week training evolution in Germany in June.

Emergency Managers prove agility in regional training event

Penelope Carroll — Fri, 24 May 2024 17:32:00 GMT

In the face of the Great Power Competition, Airmen have been charged to consider how agile combat employment aligns with their own career fields. This is true of 56 Air National Guard Emergency Management Airmen as demonstrated in a recent training event held at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center May 13-18, 2024, hosted by the 127th Wing.

Michigan Airman appreciates order of warehouse

Tech. Sgt. Chelsea E. FitzPatrick — Sat, 14 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Staff Sgt. James Watson appreciates the order and the organization of a warehouse.

Network specialists keep Selfridge connected

Tech. Sgt. Chelsea E. FitzPatrick — Sat, 14 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Security and connectivity are the two watchwords for the Network Systems Operations team at the 127th Communications Flight at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan.

Mother, Chief inspired by Airmen

Tech. Sgt. Chelsea FitzPatrick — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 10:15:00 GMT

KROPP, Germany-- With nearly three decades of time in service, a chief in the Michigan National Guard’s 127th Wing has dedicated the vast majority of her enlistment to serving Airmen. It also doesn’t hurt that she has nearly three decades of motherhood to help her résumé as well. U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Dawn Porter, 127th Force Support Squadron chief, says she couldn’t leave FSS if she tried. “I am going on 28 years, and I keep coming back because I just love services,” Porter said. “You never do the same thing twice, there’s always something different, and it’s always a fun challenge.”

ID card office supports military members

Master Sgt. Dan Heaton — Sat, 05 Nov 2022 04:00:00 GMT

Holding a military identification card is a fundamental part of service and, could even be

Trapasso takes command, 127th Mission Support Group

Penelope Carroll — Sat, 04 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT

Lt. Col. Samuel D. Trapasso is the new commander of the 127th Mission Support Group after a change

PFAS mitigation efforts at Selfridge proving effective

Bruce Huffman — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT

Environmental officials at Selfridge Air National Guard Base report that samples indicate carbon-activated filters are effectively reducing levels of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, by as much as 71 percent in storm water. PFAS refers to a group of synthetic compounds found in many products that are non-stick or resistant to water, grease, or stains. Items such as stain resistant carpeting, clothing, furniture, and paper and cardboard packaging, such as burger wrappers and microwave popcorn bags, all contain PFAS. These chemicals are also found in aqueous film forming foam used to fight high intensity fuel fires, and are also used by the automotive and metal plating industries.

Selfridge CE Airmen Add Training B-Hut

Master Sgt. Daniel Heaton — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 17:52:00 GMT

Thanks to the vision of one local Airman, Selfridge Air National Guard Base is now home to one of the strangest B-Huts in the U.S. military. The B-Hut, slang for a, "barracks hut," is a small building commonly seen on U.S. military installations in Afghanistan and elsewhere. The one at Selfridge is smaller than most and is made up of a variety of building materials and methods. It is being used as a training center for the 127th Civil Engineer Squadron's building trades personnel. "It has been a vision of mine for several years," said Master Sgt. Dereck Leppek, a structures craftsman with the 127th CES. "We built this use wooden and metal studs, prefabbed materials and rafters made from lumber - the idea was to incorporate different building methods so our Airmen would get exposed to multiple scenarios."

No fuel, no force

Tech. Sgt. Chelsea E. FitzPatrick — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 15:51:00 GMT

SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich.- The one factor undoubtedly controlling the ability of the Air Force to succeed is simple: jet fuel. Members of the 127th Fuels Management Flight based here routinely work around the clock to ensure the Base is prepared to service all fuel needs, responsible for storing, distributing and receiving clean, dry and serviceable fuel, the unit keeps the heart of the base beating. “Our career field is important to the Air National Guard mission because, without fuel, nothing would happen on base,” Senior Airman Nick Bousquette, fuels distribution operator with the 127th Fuels Management Flight said.

127 FSS gives troops place to lay heads

Tech. Sgt. Chelsea E. Barber — Sun, 05 Aug 2018 15:57:00 GMT

Ten men sat quietly in a dimly-lit room watching a video presentation on a Sunday morning.

127th Wing deploys members to ORA

Tech. Sgt. Chelsea E. Barber — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT

On a muggy midsummer day in Alpena, approximately 100 servicemembers filed into a large, hangar-like building donned in camouflaged protective gear from head-to-toe. Taking seats in metal folding chairs, cool air filtered through the open overhead door, the only relief from the congested heat. “It’s very hard to do your job when you’re wearing your [chemical] gear,” said Brig. Gen. John D. Slocum, commander 127th Wing, “The point is to familiarize ourselves with the processes and procedures so we can seamlessly integrate into a deployed environment.” More than 500 Citizen-Airmen of the 127th Wing mobilized during several different simulated deployments last week, culminating with the largest group on Sunday. Formerly referred to as “phase one and phase two”, the operational readiness assessment (ORA) taking place at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), creates opportunities for troops to practice wartime taskings and reinforces readiness to deploy and operate in a wartime scenario.

127th Firefighters are ready on a moments' notice

Tech. Sgt. Dan Heaton — Thu, 10 May 2018 13:52:00 GMT

Senior Airman Kenway Hensley carries a firehose during a training exercise Selfridge Air National

Selfridge Trainees Prep for Basic Military Training

Tech. Sgt. Dan Heaton — Sat, 05 May 2018 20:02:00 GMT

Newly-enlisted trainees in the Michigan Air National Guard spent several days in May picking up fundamental military skills to help prep them for their Basic Military Training experience.

Selfridge CE Airmen Hone Skills

Tech. Sgt. Dan Heaton — Sat, 05 May 2018 13:13:00 GMT

“This is really familiarization training,” explained Staff Sgt. Michael Godwin. “We have some new junior Airmen and so this is a chance to get everyone together and work as a team.”

127th Wing Puts Focus on Customer Service

By Staff Sgt. Samara Taylor — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 21:18:00 GMT

SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. – No matter what career field, customer service should be a part of every Airmen’s job description. The 127th Wing Commander Brig. Gen. John D. Slocum has emphasized that everyone in the Wing is in the business of customer service. In this day and age of technology, Slocum noted that it is easy for Airmen to dehumanize their interactions.