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Members of Congress visit Selfridge

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Dan Heaton
  • 127th Wing Public Affairs
SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. --  In an historic visit, seven members of Congress toured Selfridge Air National Guard Base today, gaining insight into the diverse missions, capabilities and the future potential of the base.

U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich,; and U.S. Reps. Sander Levin, D-Mich; , Fred Upton, R-Mich.; Candice Miller, R-Mich.; Dan Benishek, R-Mich.; Bill Huizenga, R-Mich.; and Debbie Dingell, D-Mich.; participated in the tour at Selfridge. It is believed to be the largest single visit by a Congressional delegation to the base in the 98-plus year history of Selfridge.

The trip to Selfridge was part of a two-day event in which the members of Congress and many of their aides were to visit all of the major military facilities in the state of Michigan: the Army's TACOM Life Cycle Management Command at the Detroit Arsenal in Warren and the National Guard operated Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center in Grayling; the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Alpena; and Fort Custer Training Center and Battle Creek Air National Guard Base, both in Battle Creek. Along the way, the members flew in aircraft operated by Michigan Guardsmen and learned about the key components of each facility.

"For some of our delegation, a stop at Selfridge is familiar territory. For some, however, this was a first visit," said Brig. Gen. John D. Slocum, 127th Wing commander at Selfridge. "This visit allowed our elected leaders to gain insight into the units that operate here and the possibilities that exist here for future operations."

Selfridge is the largest and most complex Air National Guard operated base in the nation, hosting units of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Border Patrol and Customs & Border Protection, along with the host Air Force unit, the 127th Wing. Some 2,000 military and federal and state civilian personnel are assigned to the base as full-time employees. In addition, more than 2,500 Reserve and National Guard military personnel receive training at the base.

About the 127th Wing
Comprised of approximately 1,700 personnel and flying both the A-10 Thunderbolt II and the KC-135 Stratotanker, the Michigan Air National Guard's 127th Wing supports Air Mobility Command and Air Combat Command operations by providing highly-skilled Airmen to missions domestically and overseas. The 127th Wing is the host unit at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, which marks its 98th year of continuous military air operations in 2015.

About Selfridge Air National Guard Base
One of the oldest military air fields in continuous service, the military first took possession of Selfridge Air National Guard Base on July 1, 1917. The first military flight at the base took place on July 8 and formal flight operations began on July 16, 1917. Today the 127th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard is the host unit at the base, which also houses units of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection.

About the Michigan Air National Guard
More than 2,000 Citizen-Airmen serve in the Michigan Air National Guard. The MI-ANG operates the 127th Wing, which flies the KC-135 Stratotanker and A-10 Thunderbolt II, at Selfridge Air National Guard Base near Detroit; and the 110th Attack Wing, which operates a Remotely-Piloted Aircraft mission, at Battle Creek Air National Guard Base. The MI-ANG also operates two training sites in northern Michigan: the 147,000-acre Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, one of four such facilities in the nation; and the Grayling Air Gunnery Range.

About the Michigan National Guard
The Michigan National Guard's 12,000 Soldiers and Airmen stand ready to serve both state and nation. With operations at three air fields, two major training bases and more than 40 armories around the state, Michigan National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are trained to provide a wide-range of disaster response and other support to civil authorities, while maintaining a high degree of combat readiness. The Michigan National Guard operates two State Partnership for Peace programs, with Latvia (since 1993) and Liberia (since 2009). Joint Forces Headquarters is in Lansing.