SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. -- In their "state" role, the Michigan Air National Guard may be called up to active duty by the governor at any time to respond to domestic emergencies and disasters. However, as a component of the U.S. Air Force, the President of the United States can also call the Air National Guard to action during certain emergencies to augment active duty forces. For more than a century, our guard members have experienced numerous “state” and “national” mobilizations, and for the first time in its history the 127th Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base has Airmen deployed around the world in every combatant command in support of our nation’s interests.
“127th Wing Airmen, and their expertise are in demand worldwide,” said Brig. Gen. Rolf E. Mammen,127th Wing commander. “From the Pacific and North America to Europe and Africa, Michiganders are supporting a wide range of missions.”
Selfridge Airmen are trained to respond immediately when disaster strikes. There are two types of mobilizations for Air National Guard deployments. Our guard members can be called up as an entire unit or squadron, or they can be called upon as part of a small group and even as an individual augmentee if they possess the skillsets needed for a specific mission. Individuals with the right specialty codes and experience can be called up to active duty at any time to support combatant commanders around the world.
“When Guard members volunteer for a short-notice deployment tasking, they typically don’t get as much lead time or information about the mission as the traditional Reserve Component Period tasking,” said Capt. Daniel Scott, 127th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Installation Deployment Officer. According to Scott, members volunteering for emergent taskings have only days to meet all pre-deployment requirements and prepare for travel.
For overseas taskings for individual deployers, it is helpful if they are seasoned travelers, because the journey to their destination might take longer than expected and usually includes stops at numerous foreign countries before they arrive at their final destination.
“I am very proud of the contributions our highly skilled guard members are making in their local communities and around the world,” said Mammen. “This new deployment milestone is a testament to the commitment, readiness, and abilities of the men and women from the 127th Wing and the Michigan Air National Guard.”