The <strong>Arkansas</strong> 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 <strong>Arkansas</strong> Air<strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>, 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 traditional<strong>Guard</strong>sman, 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 <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>.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 <strong>Arkansas</strong> Air <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>passes 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
Carlisle takes ‘keys’ to a 189 AW C-130– 189th dedicates stampeding bisonBy Master Sgt. Bob Oldham, 189th Airlift Wing Public AffairsThe newly-dedicated “City of Carlisle” C-130 is the backdrop for a group of about40 residents and officials of Carlisle, Ark., and pilots, crew and commanders ofthe <strong>Arkansas</strong> Air <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>’s 189th Airlift Wing. (Photo by Senior AirmanJames Collins, 189th Airlift Wing.)If Airmen on the Little Rock Air ForceBase see a stampeding bison on theflight line, they shouldn’t worry; it actuallybelongs there.The <strong>Arkansas</strong> Air <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>’s189th Airlift Wing on Saturday dedicateda C-130 Hercules aircraft, namingit the City of Carlisle.Above the crew entrance door is alogo that includes an outline of the state,a star where Carlisle is in the state, thecity’s high school mascot – a black andwhite stampeding bison, and the words“City of Carlisle.”About 40 city leaders, businessleaders, school officials, parents andstudents were on hand for the ceremonyand received a base tour, Air <strong>Guard</strong> missionbriefing, one-hour orientation flighton their cargo plane and participated in aquestion-and-answer session.The group erupted in applause planeside when Mayor Bob McCallie unveiledthe logo above the aircraft’s crew entrancedoor. The dedication has caused abuzz around his city.“I’ve not talked to a soul who didn’tlike it,” the mayor said.He said the day’s activities openedhis eyes and the eyes of several othersabout the opportunities that exist in the<strong>Arkansas</strong> Air <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>.“This aircraft dedication programhas helped us tell our story to the stateof <strong>Arkansas</strong>,” said Col. Dwight Balch,189th Airlift Wing commander.Every military installation needsthe support of its local community, thecolonel said. “We certainly have thathere in Central <strong>Arkansas</strong>, but our memberscome from over 120 cities aroundthe state. We like to think of those as our‘local community,’ too.”With unit members from so manycities around the state, the colonel saidthe Air <strong>Guard</strong> is <strong>Arkansas</strong>’ hometownAir Force. And with the wing’s estimated$50.7 million economic impact, someof that money is spread around the stateto cities like Carlisle.“These residents are now a forcemultiplier for us,” the colonel said.“They’ll talk up the Air <strong>Guard</strong> and AirForce base at church, at school eventsand everywhere in between.”The wing has been dedicating itsfleet to cities around the state since February2004. Morrilton was first, and wasfollowed by Searcy, Forrest City, Cabot,Conway, Batesville, Lonoke, Bryant andBeebe. Unit members nominate theirhometowns for the honor.The <strong>Arkansas</strong> MinutemanDolanski earnsBronze Star MedalLt. Col. Robert Dolanski, 188thFighter Wing Mission Support Groupcommander, was awarded the BronzeStar Medal at a Commander’s Call forthe 188th on Sunday, Feb. 5.The Bronze Star Medal is the10th highest decoration awarded bythe president and the Department ofDefense.“This marks the first time a <strong>Guard</strong>member from the 188th Fighter Winghas been awarded the Bronze StarMedal while a member of this unit,”said Col. J.R. Dallas, then 188th FighterWing commander. “I’m so proudof Rob, and of all my commandersthat have walked the walk and talkedthe talk. I’m proud of their sacrificeduring the Wing’s deployment, andfor all of the great leadership that theydisplayed,” said Dallas.Dolanski recently returned froma four month tour as the base commanderof the new Al Muthana AirBase near Baghdad, Iraq.As soon as he arrived there Dolanskiknew that he was facing an obstaclecourse of challenges as the basewas only 80 percent complete. “Therewasn’t even a fence around it when Igot there,” he said. He immediatelyset up a force protection program thatincluded a six-foot high chain linkfence with concertina wire on top.More involved security proceduressoon followed.There were also attacks on thebase while he was there. “They werecalled ‘indirect fire’ attacks, “ Dolanskisaid. “I walked into the hanger oneday and there was a mortar laying onthe ground.”<strong>New</strong> Al Muthana functions asthe site for basic training for all of theIraqi Air Forces, as well as most ofthe technical training. The base wascompleted by the time Dolanski’s tourwas finished.“I hope that the things we didwhile there have made a difference,and that success will follow,” saidDolanski.Summer 2006 Page 39