fresno air national guard scandal

Sports. The commander of the 144th Fighter Wing at the Fresno base was also removed. (559) 453-5461 FRESNO, Calif. (AP) The head of the California Air National Guard, Major General Clay Garrison, was relieved of his command and replaced by Brigadier General Gregory Jones two months after a newspaper detailed the fallout from a scandal involving someone urinating in the boots of a service member. Keegan said the department had lost faith, trust and confidence in Garrison's ability to lead. In yet another ouster of a top commander for the troubled California National Guard, a brigadier general has been fired after internal inquiries found that he inappropriately used military personnel for personal tasks, had a subordinate complete part of his cybersecurity training and otherwise engaged in conduct that seeded distrust in the ranks. ID cardquestions and appointments: The document quoted one unnamed Guard member as saying he did not want to drive Magram because my job is to take care of the airmen in the state of California and not be a chauffeur for a general.. The Air National Guard is a reserve component of the United State Air Force. At least five Guard members from the 144th Fighter Wing filed formal complaints. A recent spate of alleged misconduct by high-ranking officers underscores the need for reform in Californias National Guard, current and former Guard members say. U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael Loh paid a visit to the California Air National Guards 144th Fighter Wing where he engaged with Airmen during their drill Feb. 4, 2023, at the Fresno Air National Guard Base. Commander out at California Air National Guard after scandal FRESNO, Calif. - The roar of two fighter jets flying over Fresno marked the beginning of a new era June 18. Members of the 144ths security forces conducted two investigations, according to internal investigative records obtained by the Times. Commander Out At California Air National Guard After Scandal But fellow officers are questioning the investigations, complaining about retaliation for their contributions and a potential cover-up. Sikora's briefing came after The Times began asking questions about alleged retaliation against whistleblowers and the incident in which Staff Sgt. Jones has served as assistant adjutant general since December 2017. California Governor Jerry Brown and the First Lady also extended their deepest condolences to Nehring's family and friends. Allegations of retaliation against whistleblowers in the California National Guard are more widespread than the complaints made at a Fresno air base that led to a dramatic leadership shakeup of the organization earlier this month, The Times has found. Videos Show F-117 Stealth Jets in California Decade After Retirement Scandals taint highest ranks of National Guard - PressReader Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Members of the 144ths security forces, who police the base, conducted two investigations, according to internal investigative records obtained by the Times. Unprofessional leadership cited in Air National Guard whistleblower Based on this article, and in addition to other evidence collected, it would appear that there is a culture of reprisal, or at a minimum the perception of reprisal, that has a long stemmed history within the 144th, the inspector general report states. The 144th is the biggest wing in the state, home to roughly 115 officers, including about two dozen fighter pilots, and more than 1,000 enlistees in support units. Now the California Air National Guard faces coverup allegations. You must meet certain enlistment criteria to qualify for the Air National Guard. All Rights Reserved. Alene Tchekmedyian And Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times, Times investigation two months ago that detailed the whistleblower allegations, Who urinated in her boots? Both were inconclusive, and the case was closed. Baldwin has been adjutant general of the Guard since 2011, when he was appointed by then-Gov. Jennifer Pineda, a 15-year veteran of the guard, was about to change into her uniform in a womens bathroom at the 144th Fighter Wing when she discovered her boots had been soiled. The Air Force says that Nehring was handpicked to take part in Clear Sky due to his more than 20-year career as a pilot flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-15 Eagle aircraft. Garrison's only guidance, Johnston wrote, was that he first confer with the 144th's judge advocate general at the time. The vast majority of you are good people who are killing it in a high ops tempo year, you're very honorable, red-blooded Americans, Sikora said at the meeting, according to the report. FRESNO, Calif. (AP) The head of the California Air National Guard, Major General Clay Garrison, was relieved of his command and replaced by Brigadier General Gregory Jones two months after a newspaper detailed the fallout from a scandal involving someone urinating in the boots of a service member. Responding to a subsequent Times query, the Guard confirmed in June that Hawkins had resigned. Rob Swertfager, also filed a complaint alleging that commanders punished him including by withholding his pay on occasion for speaking up for Pineda. "This is not a problem with the rank and file, the rank and file pilots or the great people that do their job out there every day," he said. NORTH DIGHTON, Mass. Now Eric Bischoff to Tell Story in Fresno. A third high-ranking officer in the California Air National Guard has been removed from his position because of complaints he made whistleblowers feel threatened at the 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno. The guards function as state militias whose leaders report to their respective governors. Col. Victor Sikora was relieved of command after engaging in conduct unbecoming of an officer by addressing a gathering of Guard members in a manner some found intimidating and humiliating, according to a report released Friday. The 20,000-member Guard serves a dual stateand-federal mission that includes responding to emergencies in California, such as earthquakes, wildfires and civil disturbances, and assisting U.S. armed forces in military operations overseas. Keegan said Garrison will retire in the coming weeks. Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. Alene Tchekmedyian And Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times, were removed in the wake of a Times investigation, Head Of The California Air National Guard Dismissed After Alleged Cover-up In 'Pissgate' Scandal. The California Air National Guard says its top commander, Major General Clay Garrison, has been relieved of command and will be replaced by Brigadier General Gregory Jones. Gen. Gregory Jones two months after a newspaper detailed the fallout from a scandal involving someone urinating in the boots of a service member. Investigators reached no conclusions that time around either. Magram, who was once director of the Guards air staff, is the fifth general to resign, retire or be fired in the wake of scandals exposed by Times investigations of the organization over the last four years. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing this? These criteria ensure that those who join have the right mental, physical and moral aptitudes to perform the tasks required for military service. Allegations of retaliation against whistleblowers in the California National Guard are more widespread than the complaints made at a Fresno air base that led to a dramatic leadership shakeup of the organization earlier this month, The Times has found. Clear Sky brings together more than 950 personnel from Ukraine and eight NATO nations. The evidence included Pineda's boots and a vial of urine collected from the bathroom floor that was never tested for DNA. California Air Guard head removed over cover-up, retaliation Opinion, California This clearly means that anyone exercising their right to speak with the IG or the press is not honorable, not a good person, and implies they are not a red-blooded American, the report quotes Swertfager as saying. Jennifer Pineda, a 15-year veteran of the guard, was about to change into her uniform in a womens bathroom at the 144th Fighter Wing when she discovered her boots had been soiled. The California Air National Guard is the second largest unit in the Air Guard, a force of more than 100,000 pilots, other officers and enlisted people. Rob Swertfager, also filed a complaint alleging that commanders punished him including by withholding his pay on occasion for going to bat for Pineda. Behold F-117s On Their Historic Deployment To Fresno In These Stunning He said he believed the allegations were lodged by someone who overheard and misconstrued a conversation he had with a chaplain. Jones has served as assistant adjutant general since December 2017. A third high-ranking officer in the California Air National Guard has been removed from his position because of complaints he made whistleblowers feel threatened at the 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno, By Magram attained the rank of assistant adjutant general and had been part of Baldwins inner circle. General requirements include: AGE. (559) 454-5286 FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Fresno's 144th Fighter Wing is under scrutiny from the U.S. Air Force Inspector General's Office because of a disgusting discovery four years ago. Pineda filed a whistleblower complaint, in which she wrote that she feared she would be forced out of the military because some had speculated that she urinated in her own boots "for attention." Lt. Col. Seth "Jethro" Nehring, 44, was killed while taking part in a familiarization flight in a Russian-built Su-27UB fighter jet with a Ukrainian counterpart. Among the other disclosures by The Times were the Guards use of a spy plane to monitor civilian protesters and fears in the ranks that it planned to deploy a fighter jet to frighten demonstrators. A mystery at a California military base led to claims of a cover-up. The complaints focused on the organizations Fresno air base and included an incident in which someone urinated in a female Guard members boots. The guards function as state militias whose leaders report to their respective governors. Beevers and Newsom did not respond to requests for comment made through spokespersons. Garrison ran the base at the time of the incident. In an email to The Times, Hill said an internal disciplinary board substantiated the allegations against Magram, and the general was removed for cause. The boards action came after two separate inquiries into Magrams conduct by military inspectors general; directives to dismiss him were issued by Gov. I want to reiterate that had I ever heard of any ethics issues like this from subordinates, peers or commanders, or perceptions of such, I would have corrected or addressed it on the spot, Magram said in a statement to an inspector general. Please enter valid email address to continue. A general forced out as head of the California Air National Guard two weeks ago says the state Guard commander has lost touch with reality.. Baldwin later removed the commander of the Guard's air side, Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison. Gen. Tim Rieger, who was tasked by Maj. Gen. David Baldwin, head of the California Military Department, with investigating Sikora's actions. When it comes to protecting U.S. Air Force's military assets, the responsibility falls on the Security Forces Defenders. In interviews with the Times, several current and former members of the guard described a culture of retaliation by high-ranking officers and mistrust in the inspector general system intended to hold them accountable. FILE - In this April 12, 2006, file photo, then US Air Force Lt. Col. Clay "Slam" Garrison, Weapons Officer assigned with the 144th Fighter Wing of the California Air National Guard, explains the units area of coverage on a map of California in Fresno, Calif.

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