109th Airlift Wing Emergency Management Flight is named best in the Air National Guard
New York Air National Guard Airmen receive Colonel Frederick J. Reimer Award
Stratton Air National Guard Base, Scotia, N.Y. (09/12/2019) — The 109th Airlift Wing's Emergency Management Flight has been named the best in the Air National Guard.Air Force emergency management personnel are trained to conduct response and recovery missions following a natural or man made disaster on their base or anywhere around the world.
They are also responsible for training other Airmen in dealing with disaster situations.Emergency managers are also experts in all aspects of training people how to survive in a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear environment.
The 109th Airlift Wing's seven emergency managers were recognized for training more than 1,100 New York Air National Guard members from two different units, and for rewriting the curriculum the Air Force uses to train emergency managers throughout the Air Force during 2018.
The unit was awarded the Colonel Frederick J. Reimer Award, which recognizes the best emergency manager flight in the Air National Guard.
"Other units came to us for training because they noticed what we were doing how quickly and efficiently we were training people, explained Master Sgt. Devin Reilly, one of the emergency management specialists.In addition, to training fellow Airmen, the emergency management flight conducted training with local civilian entities.
They also conducted hazardous materials training for five Air National Guard EM Flights, the New York State Police and fire departments in Federal Emergency Management Region 2, which includes New York and New Jersey.
"A part of our job as emergency managers is to build relationships with local first responders; so we invited them to train with us so we could learn about what we each do. If you don't go out into the community and showcase your abilities, they would never know we are here. Now we can begin to build mutual aid agreements," Reilly said.
"It's great because we to train people on how to survive and then when something does happen in a real world contingency, we are there to mitigate the situation and save lives," said Senior Master Sgt. Greg Mihalko, the wing Emergency Management Superintendent.
The 109th Airlift Wing, based at Stratton Air National Guard Base near Schenectady, N.Y. operates the LC-130 "Skibird" version of the Hercules transport plane. The LC-130 is the largest ski-equipped aircraft in the world.The wing supplies National Science Foundation research stations in the Antarctic and on the Greenland ice cap each year.
Media Attachments
Members of the 109th Airlift Wing's Emergenecy Management Flight pose with their Colonel Frederick J. Reimer Award during recent chemcial, biological, nuclear training conducted at Stratton Air National Guard Base. The award recognizes the best emergency managment flight in the Air National Guard. ( U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Christine Wood.)
New York National Guard
Col. Richard Goldenberg, 518-786-4581Share this Story
Recent News
- NY Air Guard Major GEmma Fiduk, an East Windsor, NJ resident, takes command of 105th Airlift Wing's Civil Engineer Squadron
- Fayetteville High School Student Helps New York National Guard Salute Army's 251st Birthday
- New York National Guard marks Army's 251st Birthday with cake-cutting ceremony at Latham headquarters
- Three Air National Guard Members Pedal for Mohawk Valley's Missing Children Group
- NY Air Guard Lt. Col. Kip Trauch, a Liverpool resident, takes command of 224th Air Defense Squadron during May 26 ceremony
- Air Guard Lt. Col. Michael Rutigliano, a Melbville resident, honored after 30-year career during June 6 retirement ceremony
- New York Air Guard Colonel Glyn Weir, a Cutchogue resident, retires after 34 years of service during June 6 ceremony
- NY Army National Guard marks the Army's 251st Birthday with a birthday cake cutting ceremony on Friday, June 12
- Colonel Christopher Weisshaar Assumes Command of 107th Attack Wing During June 6 Ceremony at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station
- 107th Attack Wing Welcomes New Commander With Formal Assumption of Command Ceremony on Saturday, June 6