Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 NEWS
 President Bush: National Guard fully engaged in wildfire battle By Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill
                National Guard Bureau
 ESCONDIDO, Ca. - The National Guard is providing critical help to civilian authorities fighting Southern California's mammoth wildfires, national leaders said here Thursday, Oct. 25. "Our National Guard personnel have provided very important assistance," President George W. Bush said during a visit to the fire scenes. Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Maj. Gen. William Wade II, adjutant general of the California National Guard, were among leaders accompanying the president. More than 2,500 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen were assisting civilian authorities with firefighting efforts by the end of the week. "The contribution of the National Guard is a five-star effort," said U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein from California. "You've always responded, you've always responded professionally, and you've always responded with great compassion and dedication, and I'm really grateful for the National Guard." Citizen-Airmen are dropping fire retardant from C-130 aircraft. Citizen-Soldiers are dropping water from UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, patrolling evacuated neighborhoods, manning traffic control points in support of civilian law enforcement agencies and providing other logistical support. Among the National Guard's contributions: Air National Guard crews are dumping retardant from C-130 aircraft equipped with Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems (MAFFS).
	Full Motion Video Downlink on a National Guard RC-26B aircraft is providing imagery for incident commanders.
	The National Guard is providing state-of-the-art communications capabilities that are being used by local, state and federal agencies. Lt. Col. Brian L. Ratchford, an aircraft commander with the North Carolina Air National Guard's 145th Airlift Wing, is one of the pilots flying missions in a MAFFS-equipped C-130 out of Naval Air Station Point Mugu in California. "The size of this operation is enormous," Ratchford said. "The size of the response, the size of the fire is so much larger than I have ever done." A pilot since 1987 and a veteran of every major U.S. combat mission since Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989, Ratchford has fought California wildfires from the air before. His goal this time? "We hope to fly as many missions as we can and drop as much retardant as we can," Ratchford said. "I would like to see all the fires out before we leave. This is really challenging flying, but it's also very gratifying. These aircraft are built for war but being used in support of American citizens and their property. I believe in every mission the Air National Guard has undertaken. It is especially gratifying to help someone protect their home and property." *Note: Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke contributed to this report.*
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course
 By Sgt. 1st Class Shane Smith,
  38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise
 By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry,
  Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska
 By 156th Wing
  More
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course Guard News • 5 hours ago
 38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise Guard News • 13 hours ago
 Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska Guard News • 13 hours ago
 Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Hawaii Air National Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Joint Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 2024 (196)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil