2006 WVNG Annual Report PDF - West Virginia Army National Guard

West Virginia National Guard Annual Report 2006The 167th AeromedicalEvacuation Squadron hadmembers volunteer to deploy toSouthwest Asia and Germanyin support of OIF/OEF. TheAES is also supporting OperationJump Start. During TeamYankee Exercise 2006, the unitsupported an annual masscasualtyexercise in the NewEngland states.The 167th IntelligenceSection has been busy retrainingpersonnel to support thewing's new mission. Somepersonnel have deployed toOperation Iraqi Freedom in support of the Scathe View mission, and one member supportedthe Predator unmanned aerial vehicle mission at Nellis AFB, Nev. The Intelligence Section isvery active on base and in the local community in support of counter-terrorism operations.Many 167th AW members havebeen recognized throughout theyear. Staff Sgt. Nathan Mueller,167th Communications Flight,was named Airman of the Yearfor the state of West Virginia.Brig. Gen. Terry Butler, commanderand chief of staff ofWVANG, presented Staff Sgt.Mueller with the J. KempMcLaughlin trophy, given annuallyto the Air Guard's top performer.Maj. Audie Sanders,167th Military Equal OpportunityOfficer, received the MEO ofthe year. Maj. Sanders was aneasy pick for this award, as he is one of the most highly requested MEO instructors. He wasinstrumental in the design of the national curriculum for reserve component MEO students.Several members of the 167th AW have been featured in the local newspaper's "UnsungHeroes" series, which shares stories of area veterans who served in wars and conflicts fromWorld War II through the present day. The 167th AW also lost two valuable members from thebase. In July, Col Brooke Taylor, 167th AES Commander, retired after 20 years of service inthe active duty Air Force and West Virginia Air National Guard. The second member was Lt.Col. Charles Sencindiver, 167th Chief of Staff, who retired after 38 years with the West VirginiaAir National Guard.23