Fighting New Battles - Arkansas National Guard

The Arkansas Minutemanair guard newsFort Smith Native Assumes Command of 188th Fighter WingCol. Kevin L. Wear assumed commandof the 188th Fighter Wing, as Col. JohnR. Dallas handed over the responsibilityduring a change of command ceremonyin Fort Smith, Ark., May 7.In view of hundreds of Airmen,Soldiers, civic leaders, family andfriends, Dallas presented the unit’s colorsto the Commander of the Arkansas AirNational Guard, Brig. Gen. Shelby Bryant.With the handoff, Dallas stated thewords, “Sir, I relinquish command.”As the former commander steppedaside, Bryant continued the militarytradition that symbolized the transferof command by handing the colors toCol. Wear who had stepped forward toreceive the responsibility. With a firmgrasp of the guidon, Wear stated, “Sir, Iassume command.”Wear was born and raised in FortSmith, the son of Carl and Doris Wear. A1974 graduate of Northside High School,Wear joined the 188th Fighter Wing in1978 and completed undergraduate pilottraining in January, 1980. He has over27 years of fighter experience in both theF-4 and the F-16 and is now charged tolead the 188th into its conversion to theA-10 “Warthog.”During his service as a traditionalGuardsman, Wear worked as the directorof mid-continent operations for PenningtonSeismic Exchange, Inc. from 1981 to1993. For the next four years, Col. Wearserved at the Pentagon on a four yearactive duty tour, as the chief of fighterdeployments for the Air National Guard.Col. Wear’s military service also includedtours at the headquarters for boththe United States Air Forces Europe andPacific. Wear served as the commanderof the 12th Expeditionary Fighter Squadronwhile deployed to Curacao, AntillesNetherlands, in 1999. Traditional assignmentsfor the new commander includedfour years as the 188th’s vice wing commanderand most recently, as the specialassistant to Bryant.Wear has been a pilot with FederalExpress since 1997 and is currentlyscheduled to transition from first officeron the DC-10 to captain. He will remainwith FEDEX while serving as the 188thFighter Wing Commander. Lt. Col. TomAnderson, a member of the 188th since1987, was selected as the wing’s newvice commander and began a full-timeactive duty tour to serve in that capacity.Brig. Gen. Shelby Bryant, commanderof the Arkansas Air National Guardpasses command of the 188th FighterWing to Col. Kevin L. Wear May 7,2006 as 188th Command ChiefMaster Sgt. Bobby Hopkins and former188th commander Col. J.R. Dallas participate.(Photo by Tech. Sgt. StephenM. Hornsey, 188th Fighter Wing.)Col. J.R. Dallas celebrates final flight with 188th Fighter WingCol. J.R. Dallas celebrated his finalflight in a 188th Fighter Wing F-16Saturday, May 6. Dallas relinquished hiscommand to Col. Kevin L. Wear May 7.His “fini” flight began early withpre-flight briefings, and included atraining mission over Razorback Rangeat Fort Chaffee near Fort Smith, Ark.,where the 188th is based.Dallas and his flight performedbombing missions before returning to theFort Smith airport where he received ahearty, albeit wet, reception.As he exited his aircraft he receivedthe traditional “hosing down” by hisfellow pilots as his flying career with the188th came to a close.Dallas assumed command of the188th in November of 2001. He hasseen the Wing through the latest BRACinitiative, and a progressive plan forupdating base facilities.Photo by Tech. Sgt. Stephen M. Hornsey, 188th Fighter WingPage 38 Summer 2006