124th Wing successfully completed Exercise Gemstone Warrior

By Joachim Jacob, Warthog News Editor

During the last couple of days, 124th Wing Public Affairs released a lot of new pictures on their unique website The Beacon Live. Those pictures (at least 24) are related to their newest exercise.



Available official photo caption: The 124th Wing successfully completed Exercise Gemstone Warrior during March 2012 UTA. The 124th Maintenance Group generated aircraft for deployment and combat operations. Wing Commander Col. James R. Compton said he was encouraged by the overall...

Note: Pictured is A-10C 78-0618 from the 190th Fighter Squadron.





Please note: Following the 124th Wing on the web isn't easy since they established The Beacon Live as a website in addition to their regular website. The problem: They doesnt further update their regular website, and the full content of The Beacon Live is RESTRICTED only to 124th wing members and other military people. Because of that, I try to make screenshots of their released photos. At least from my viewpoint: I don't like this RESTRICTED public affairs publicity doing by 124th Wing staff. That's not a good idea, and it's 100 % in contrast to most of all other current A-10C units which are online with websites and associated Facebook pages. BTW: It's stressful to copy their pictures, save them, and publish them again. I would like to get all related hi-res shots on their regular website.

"Hidden" A-10C photos caught as screenshots from 124th Wing's The Beacon Live website

By Joachim Jacob

More and more A-10C units are present on the public web with their official websites and additional Facebook fan pages. Instead of that, the 124th Wing (Idaho Air National Guard), Boise, with their 190th Fighter Squadron, choosed to publish an online newsletter called The Beacon Live. Anybody can view and download their archived PDF files. But access to latest news and photos is still restricted to 124th Wing members.

I tryed to get access to the "hot content", but from 124th Wing Public Affairs I got the following reply:

Thomas Gloeckle has sent you a message on Idaho ANG Beacon.

Subject: Access to the Beacon Live

------------
Joachim

Thank you for your interest in the Beacon Live. However, due to current Air Force regulations access to our online newspaper is limited to members and former members of the Air National Guard. Should the regulations change we will be more than happy to have you join the Beacon Live audience.

Beacon Live staff





Let me try to take some more related screenshots.

190th Fighter Squadron A-10Cs caught at Nellis February 18, 2011

At Nellis AFB, Nevada, Warthog News contributor Bruce Smith from the United States had the opportunity to watch the arrival of two A-10Cs from the 190th Fighter Squadron, 124th Fighter Wing (Idaho ANG). The aircraft are 78-0627 and 78-0643. What they came in for is still unknown.



A-10C 78-0643. (Photo by Bruce Smith) Full size

Design our A-10's nose art

Released by 124th Fighter Wing Public Affairs in the February 2011 issue of The Beacon Live, the official online newsletter of the Idaho Air National Guard:

January 28, 2011

The 190th Fighter Squadron is in need of a new and fresh skull theme nose design for the Boise Hawgs. They are in need of an artist with energy and time to come up with a design that will go down in history!

The winner for the best entry for nose art will receive a prize to be determined at a later time. For more information, please call the 190th Ops Desk at (208) 422-5348 or call public affairs at (208) 422-6157.

Please submit a jpg of your design to 124idaho@gmail.com or stop by public affairs to have your drawing scanned.

Source



The 190th Fighter Squadron emblem with a skull and two crisscrossed Avenger cannons instead the usual two crisscrossed bones. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

Related Warthog Territory Forums topic

Please note: Creating a skull around an A-10 bow section is not easy...

I already sent related requests to some known artists ...

Master Sgt. Bradley Jaeckel dies

Released by 124th Fighter Wing Public Affairs in the February 2011 issue of The Beacon Live, the official online newsletter of the Idaho Air National Guard:

January 28, 2011

By Master Sgt. Tom Gloeckle
124th Fighter Wing Public Affairs NCOIC

Master Sgt. Bradley Jaeckel, a crew chief assigned to the 124th Maintenance Squadron's A-10 Phase Dock, passed away Jan. 6 due to complications related to a medical condition.

Family, friends and co-workers met to celebrate his life at the Chaplain Art Moore
Memorial Chapel at Gowen Field Jan. 13.

Sergeant Jaeckel joined the Air Force in April 1985 and joined the Idaho Air National Guard in January 1990. He served his state in a number of wildfire and flood reliefs and served his country overseas in numerous foreign nations to include Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, and Sicily for the Bosnian conflict. He originally was an F-111 Crew Chief in the Active Air Force. In the Air National Guard, he went from crew chief to weapons loader to the A-10 Phase Docks where he achieved the rank of master sergeant and position of phase work leader.

He deployed to Iraq in 2007 as the dock chief, where he lead with integrity and strength. He was well known to his fellow Airmen for a dry and outstanding sense of humor, who had the ability to spotlight and correct potential problem areas. According to friends, he was a man that could see into the heart of a situation and used that to give wise counsel to any who asked.

"He led by example, cared about his people first, and used his sense of humor as a tool to train his people, "said Master Sgt. Mark Klaudt, long time friend, fellow crew chief, and phase dock co-worker.

He was highly decorated, honors included: the global war on terrorism citation with two devices, the Kosovo campaign medal, and the Air Force achievement award.

***Message from the Summary Courts Officer***

Anyone who may have a claim for or against his estate is asked to contact Capt. Roger Daniel, appointed summary courts officer, at (208) 422-5695 no later than Feb. 11, 2011.



Probably a personal picture of Master Sgt. Bradley Jaeckel, driving a motor boat. Full size

Source

Condolences to the Jaeckel family from the Warthog News editorial staff.

The Beacon Live online base newspaper gets its own website

By Joachim Jacob

The Beacon Live, the official newsletter of the Idaho Air National Guard's 124th Wing at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, is now available on a new website .



An amazing view of one of the Idaho Air National Guard's hangars, with two A-10s on display and hundreds of gathered servicemembers.

Let me try this new official source for additional info.

190th Fighter Squadron A-10C caught at D-M October 29, 2010

At Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, Warthog News contributor Ned Harris from the United States had the opportunity to take the following shots:



A-10C 78-0619 from the 190th Fighter Squadron, 124th Wing (Idaho ANG). (Photo by Ned Harris) Full size



A-10C 78-0619 from the 190th Fighter Squadron, 124th Wing (Idaho ANG). (Photo by Ned Harris) Full size

190th Fighter Squadron A-10C caught at D-M October 28, 2010

At Davis-Monthan AFB, Warthog News contributor Ned Harris from the United States had the opportunity to take the following shot:



A-10C 78-0634 from the 190th Fighter Squadron, 124th Wing (Idaho ANG). (Photo by Ned Harris) Full size

Two 190th Fighter Squadron A-10Cs caught at Lajes during stopover enroute back to CONUS from Afghanistan deployment

On September 27, 2010, Warthog News contributor André Inácio from Portugal had the opportunity to catch two A-10Cs from the 190th Fighter Squadron, 124th Wing (Idaho Air National Guard), Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, as they arrived at Lajes Field, Azores, for stopover enroute back to Continental United States (CONUS) after supporting the 81st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).

Today, after solving some problems with his PC, André e-mailed me the following two exclusive pictures. As he told me, both Hogs arrived 2:10 pm (local time) and departed Lajes for CONUS on September 29. Escorting tanker was KC-135 61-0277 based at Kansas.



A-10C 78-0703 with usual white IDAHO tail band inscription. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size



A-10C 79-0194 with red IDAHO tail band inscription and marked 124 OG as the 124th Operations Group's bird. (Photo by André Inácio) Full size

Job well done again, André! And special thanks for sharing your exclusive pictures. They are very important to document A-10 OEF combat deployments.

Note:
These two A-10Cs were announced to arrive at Lajes as Mazda 85-86. Serial numbers:
78-0703 and 79-0194 (marked as 124th Operation Group commander's aircraft). Supporting tanker was KC-135 61-0277 from Kansas. Both Hogs were part of a surge deployment to reinforce the 81st EFS at Kandahar. Also part of this surge deployment were six additional Hogs from the 81st Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem AB, Germany.

See also:
Two 190th Fighter Squadron A-10Cs logged at Lajes during stopover enroute back to CONUS from Afghanistan deployment
Two 190th Fighter Squadron A-10s logged at Lajes

Photo: 190th Fighter Squadron A-10C caught at D-M September 28, 2010

On September 28, 2010, Warthog News contributor James O'Rear from the United States had the opportunity to take the following rare picture at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona:



A-10C 78-0653 from the 190th Fighter Squadron, 124th Wing (Idaho Air National Guard), Boise, Idaho, on final to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. (Photo by James O'Rear) Full size

Two 190th Fighter Squadron A-10Cs logged at Lajes during stopover enroute back to CONUS from Afghanistan deployment

As mentioned on the Dutch Scramble Message Board some days ago, on September 27, 2010, two A-10Cs from the 190th Fighter Squadron, 124th Wing (Idaho Air National Guard), Gowen Field, Idaho, arrived at Lajes Field, Azores, for stopover enroute back to Continental United States (CONUS) after supporting the 81st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).

These two A-10Cs were announced to arrive at Lajes as Mazda 85-86. Serial numbers:
78-0703 and 79-0194 (marked as 124th Operation Group commander's aircraft). Supporting tanker was KC-135 61-0277 from Kansas.

Both Hogs were part of a surge deployment to reinforce the 81st EFS at Kandahar. Also part of this surge deployment were six additional Hogs from the 81st Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem AB, Germany.

See also:
Two 190th Fighter Squadron A-10s logged at Lajes

190th Fighter Squadron, wing readies for Hawgsmoke 2010 champs stand up to host worldwide A-10 competition set to begin Oct. 13

Updated September 24, 2010

For some weeks I waited for such an official news article related to Hawgsmoke 2010:



Idaho is ready as the A-10 community prepares to descend on Gowen Field and Boise for the Hawgsmoke 2010 competition Oct. 13-16 (Photo by Drew Gardner, ANG Creative). Note: Pictured is A-10C 78-0627 from the 190th Fighter Squadron, 124th Wing (ANG), Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho; and probably caught on July 15, 2010. Hi-res

by Capt. Tony Vincelli
124th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

9/23/2010 - GOWEN FIELD, Boise, Idaho -- After almost two years of preparation, final details are being worked out as Idaho prepares to host pilots and maintainers of A-10 units from around the world for Hawgsmoke 2010, held Oct. 13-16 here.

The 190th Fighter Squadron plays host this year because they won Hawgsmoke 2008, held in Salinas, Kans. That pitted the 190th's pilots against pilots from 14 other Air National Guard, Air Force and Air Force Reserve A-10 units from around the world.

Hawgsmoke tests A-10 pilots in flight leadership, target acquisition, weapons delivery and support and the amount of preparation and coordination to host the event is daunting.

The planning involved with such a competition is significant. Just ask Lt. Col. Ronnie Kauffman, chairman of the event's planning committee.

The planning for Hawgsmoke 2010 has been a tremendous group effort. It began with an outstanding handoff from Whiteman, the host unit for Hawgsmoke 2008. I am extremely excited to have everyone here for this year's event," Colonel Kauffman said.

Things like building a website, coordinating sponsor support, developing merchandise, formulating an aircraft parking plan, buying the airspace to compete in, and reserving a location for all Activities have been going on behind-the-scenes for the past 23 months, Kauffman said.

Gowen Field - A busy place

More than 40 A-10 aircraft will be parked on the ramp. Pilots and maintainers for 17 teams - roughly 150 people - will be in Boise for the event. Most will stay on base.

The majority of the aircraft will arrive here Wednesday Oct. 13. Pilots and maintainers will in-process, be given a local area brief, and welcomed by our wing commander, Col. J.R. Compton. A special ceremony honoring fallen A-10 pilots and an evening social at the Mobilization, Conference and Activities Center will conclude the first day.

Barring bad weather, the gunnery competition will be held the following day at Saylor Creek Training range. The crud tournament, a fast-paced game played by pilots all over the world that is loosely based on billiards, will be held that evening.
Friday will include a golf tournament at Falcon Crest Golf Course in Kuna and a banquet to honor the competition winners and build on the long-standing camaraderie in the A-10 community, which Colonel Kauffman calls "priceless".

A-10 maintenance challenges not an issue this time around

Hawgsmoke 2008 planners were faced with issues relating to a Time Compliance Technical Order that limited the availability of A-10 aircraft and personnel.

Even though there were enough teams and aircraft to compete, the TCTO hampered some units in their ability to bring maintenance personnel to support Hawgsmoke 2008 as they worked at their home stations to inspect and repair A-10s. Still, the maintainers were able to meet the challenge.

All things are coming into focus for a great week of competition, camaraderie, tradition and fun as Hawgsmoke 2010 is just days away. Take part in the activities as your schedule allows.

Source

Please note: The original headline of this news article is "190th Fighter Squadron, wing readies for Hawgsmoke 2010 2008 champs stand up to host worldwide A-10 competition set to begin Oct. 13". It looks to me like a typo. Or they would write "190th Fighter Squadron, wing readies for Hawgsmoke 2010 (./-) 2008 champs stand up to host worldwide A-10 competition set to begin Oct. 13"

And so I hope, we will get some more related info about the upcoming Hawgsmoke 2010 competition.

Update September 24, 2010:
Meanwhile, at least the link headline on the 124th Fighter Wing's homepage was changed to: 190th Fighter Squadron, wing readies for Hawgsmoke 2010

124th ASOS to be featured in national ad campaign

Extracted from the Beacon News, official newsletter of the 124th Fighter Wing (August - September 2010 public online PDF issue), released today:



The Battlefield Airmen commercial shoot in Boise required more than 50 wing personnel to make it happen. In addition to the cast, made up of ASOS TACP's, members of the maintenance group, wing staff, operations group and mission support group all pitched in with duties like prepping the aircraft, hanging a huge flag for the set, scheduling and flying and many, many more. (Photo by Drew Gardner, ANG Creative) Larger version

Note: Pictured in this photo session is A-10C 78-0624 with a targeting pod on station 10.

By Capt. Tony Vincelli, Public Affairs Officer

Filming for a series of national commercials wrapped July 19 here that will feature Tactical Air Control Party, or TACPs, from the 124th Air Support Operations Squadron and other Airmen from the Idaho Air Guard.

The "Battlefield Airmen" advertising campaign will be aimed at recruiting airmen into three highly specialized and demanding combat-related Air Guard career fields: TACP, Pararescue and Combat Control.

The Idaho Air Guard played a key role in the creation of this marketing campaign as a team of directors, producers and highly skilled film professionals from ANG Creative, the National Guard Bureau's in-house production studio, were on location for nearly a week scouting, coordinating and filming the commercial.

Both Idaho and its Airmen were on display: the mountainous desert terrain looks eerily like Afghanistan and the Air Guard's 124th Air Support Operations Squadron calls this area and its awesome training areas home.

"It's a natural fit. (Boise has) both a very strong ASOS and also an A-10 squadron, which is one of the airframes most often associated with close air support missions. It also has the terrain that allows the commercial to be shot in a similar
environment to those Battlefield Airmen are engaged in currently," said Col. Mark Auer, commander of the 182nd Air Support Operations Group and chairman of the TACP
weapons system council.

Colonel Auer, a key architect of this new marketing campaign, worked closely with the National Guard recruiting service to enlist the expertise of the skilled filmmakers, creative professionals and Air Guard members who make up ANG Creative, led by Senior Master Sgt. Rob Truvia. He also leveraged a close working relationship with Col. J.R. Compton, commander of the Idaho Air Guard's 124th Fighter Wing,
with whom he worked on several occasions in the past on the Air Director Field Advisory Council.

Colonel Compton knew that Boise, Idaho and the great training ranges nearby, unique blend of close air support assets and first-class airmen would make the ideal filming location to highlight the TACP mission. So when asked, Colonel Compton was more than happy to showcase his state and his unit in a nationwide advertising campaign.

The driving force behind the Battlefield Airmen ads is a shortage of 220 TACPs Air Guard-wide. Colonel Auer cited the following reasons for the shortage: continuing combat operations have created a real need for Battlefield Airmen, especially TACPs; and it takes years for a new TACP to become a fully-qualified member of the TACP community.

While the other career fields will be highlighted in the ads with additional filming in other locations, the need is greatest for TACPs, the colonel said.

That is why it is necessary for the Air Guard to reach out through innovative and professional marketing to educate and increase awareness of the Air Guard's dynamic career fields that are attractive to young men who, in the past, have gravitated toward Special Forces, Marines reconnaissance, and other elite military specialties.

Source

Idaho National Guard hosts employers and civic leaders

Stan McKie
Boise City Buzz Examiner
August 26th, 2010 7:14 pm MT

The Idaho National Guard played host to 179 employers, civic leaders, representatives from Idaho government agencies and members of the legislature at its annual 'Boss Lift' today August 26, 2010. The 'Boss Lift' is conducted every year by the Idaho Chapter of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. The state chapter is part of a nationwide organization of business and civic leaders to provide support for members of the guard and reserve, and to assist their civilian employers to understand the importance of part-time military service, and provides help to businesses that have employees called away from their civilian jobs to active military duty.

The Idaho National Guard Public Affairs office under Col. Tim Marciano of the Idaho Air Guard, took the participants in the 'Boss Lift' on a tour of training facilities on Gowen Field, and then by helicopter to the Orchard Training Area where soldiers from the 116th Cavalry Brigade are doing their annual training. They are also preparing to begin deployment to Iraq next month.

The civilians toured the training simulators for both small arms and vehicle-borne weapons and were allowed to actually use the trainers under the supervision of retired guard soldiers, CW3 Don Robbins and MSG Bill Nuttal. They were able to experience what if feels like to use M16A4 Rifles and M4 Carbines in a fire-fight, and how it looks to drive a HummVee through downtown Baghdad and engage targets with a .50 caliber machine gun.

Afterwards, they toured the facilities of the Idaho Air Guard's 190th Fighter Squadron. On display were the simulators for the A-10 Warthog ground attack aircraft, as well as other supporting units of the Air Guard, including a display of equipment of the 101st Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Defense Team.

The 116th continues their annual training through next week, and then will begin deployment around the middle of September.

Source

Note: From the associated slide show I selected the following pictures:



A-10 Warthog. (Photo by Examiner)



Actual A-10C cockpit. (Photo by Examiner)



A-10's main weapon, 30mm rotary cannon 'Gatling Gun'. (Photo by Examiner)



A-10 pilot trainer. (Photo by Examiner)



30mm round. (Photo by Examiner)

Two 190th Fighter Squadron A-10s logged at Lajes

As mentioned on the Dutch Scramble Messageboard, A-10s 78-0703 and 79-0194 from the 190th Fighter Squadron, 124th Wing (Idaho Air National Guard), Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, were logged at Lajes Field, Azores, July 28, 2010.

Also posted is the following info:

- Some A-10s should be arriving at Lajes tomorrow (Monday July 26).

- The A-10s should be departing tomorrow (Saturday) as Mazda 75 and Mazda 76. They are under CE161. [CE = Coronet East, J.J.]

My reply, just posted this night:

Is there any destination known for both A-10s? Spangdahlem AB (if really only two)? Or Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan (as advance guard of an ANG "Rainbow Team" to replace the 81st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron from Spang)? Any pictures, taken at Lajes?

Source

By the way: In mid-May 2010, the 81st EFS arrived at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, for a scheduled four-month combat deployment supporting Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). And now, it's time to relieve the 81st EFS by another unit.

Video: Battlefield Airmen ad - Sneak Peak

Released by 124th Wing Public Affairs:



Behind the scenes of an upcoming Air Guard ad to be broadcast nationwide.

Watch the video

Video: Idaho Air National Guard - A Brief History

Now on the 124th Fighter Wing Channel, released by 124th Fighter Wing Public Affairs:



A history of Gowen Field from WWII to the inception of the Idaho Air National Guard to today's operations around the world.

Watch the video

Survive. Evade. Resist. Escape.

Lt. Col. Shannon Smith, 124th Fighter Wing chief of safety, hides from opposing forces during Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape refresher training at the Orchard Training Area south of Gowen Field April 10. During the overnight exercise conducted over April drill, pilots from the 190th Fighter Squadron conducted refresher training in land navigation and evasion techniques. The 124th Life Support Section coordinated and planned the training event with additional assistance from active duty Airmen from the 366th Operations Support Squadron SERE flight based at Mountain Home Air Force Base.

New official newsletter launched by 124th Wing, called "THE BEACON"

THE BEACON is the latest offical newsletter of the 124th Wing, Idaho Air National Guard. It is published bi-monthly by the wing public affairs office. Views expressed may not be those of the U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard, Department of Defense or
U.S. government.

Please let me tell you: I do not understand why 124th Public Affairs is calling this newsletter as the official newsletter of the 124th Fighter Wing. And I also not understand why the 124th it calls by self as 124th FW. It's still the 124th Wing, also operating C-130 aircraft.

A-10C news article published by Combat Aircraft

In their January 2010 (Volume 11, Number 1 issue) Combat Aircraft published a news article "Idaho's Hot 'Hogs'" (eight pages). As the Idaho ANG trained hard with new capabilities and upgraded aircraft, James Haseltine was on hand to capture the action. Robert F. Dorr details the work of this unit and forthcoming plans.

Combat Aircraft Magazine is published by Ian Allan Publishing Ltd, United Kindom.

(The Hog is only pictured on the cover of the U.S. edition)