ID cardquestions and appointments: Last week, Maj. Gen. Clay L. Garrison and Col. Dan Kelly were removed in the wake of a Times investigation that detailed the whistleblower complaints and allegations that officers covered up an incident in which someone urinated in a female Guard member's boots. Responding to a subsequent Times query, the Guard confirmed in June that Hawkins had resigned. However, Magram had been counseled in 2017 that tasking Guard members for rides to personal appointments was inappropriate, the report stated, adding that his wingman argument rings hollow. The investigation similarly faulted him for using an underling to work on his travel awards accounts, including for personal trips. The California Air National Guard says its top commander, Major General Clay Garrison, has been relieved of command and will be replaced by Brigadier General Gregory Jones. Jones has served as assistant adjutant general since December 2017. General requirements include: AGE. Gen. Jones will be able to lead the organization effectively and with the utmost integrity.. But everybody else.. The Fresno Air National Guard Base in California is home to the 144th Fighter Wing. In interviews with the Times, several current and former members of the guard described a culture of retaliation by high-ranking officers and mistrust in the inspector general system intended to hold them accountable. A general forced out as head of the California Air National Guard two weeks ago says the state Guard commander has lost touch with reality.. FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- An airman from Fresno, killed in a crash of a fighter jet in Ukraine, has been identified as Lt. Col. Seth "Jethro" Nehring. April 12, 2019 7:05 PM PT A third high-ranking officer in the California Air National Guard has been removed from his position because of complaints he made whistleblowers feel threatened at the. At least five guard members from the 144th wing filed formal complaints. Magram, who was once director of the Guards air staff, is the fifth general to resign, retire or be fired in the wake of scandals exposed by Times investigations of the organization over the last four years. The 144th is the biggest wing in the state, home to roughly 115 officers, including about two dozen fighter pilots, and more than 1,000 enlistees in support units. NORTH DIGHTON, Mass. Jerry Brown. Many of the pilots are part-time reservists, signing up after careers in the U.S. Air Force, and some fly in their civilian lives for commercial airlines. Zakaria: These Revolutions May Help India Really Take off at Last, Future of California at Risk if CEQA Environmental Law Remains Unchanged, California Tax on Booze Would Double if These Activists Get Their Way. All Rights Reserved. Federal investigators on Thursday arrested a 21-year-old air national guardsman who they believe is linked to a trove of leaked classified U.S . What Dyer Had to Say. (559) 454-5286 At least five guard members from the 144th wing filed formal complaints. An F-15C air-to-air combat jet was placed on alert in case of unrest over the pandemic or election, sources and records say. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The commander of the 144th Fighter Wing at the Fresno base was also removed. Sports. FRESNO, Calif. (AP) The head of the California Air National Guard, Major General Clay Garrison, was relieved of his command and replaced by Brigadier General Gregory Jones two months. The Air Force says that Nehring has been a member of the 144th for more than 20 years. Gen. A Guard spokesman, Lt. Col. Jonathan Shiroma, on Friday confirmed the shake-up, but he did not have additional details. In interviews with The Times, several current and former members of the Guard have described a climate of retaliation by high-ranking officers and mistrust in the organization's inspector general system intended to hold them accountable. Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Jones began his career as a jet engine mechanic in the Nevada Air National Guard. Based on this article, and in addition to other evidence collected, it would appear that there is a culture of reprisal, or at a minimum the perception of reprisal, that has a long stemmed history within the 144th, the inspector general report states. A mystery at a California military base led to claims of a cover-up. Pineda filed a whistleblower complaint, in which she wrote that she feared she would be forced out of the military because some had speculated that she urinated in her own boots for attention. She wanted the DNA test to clear her name. Our traditional members serve one weekend each month and about two weeks each year, with opportunities for full-time employment. Several Guard members took Sikora's remarks as a criticism of people who had filed complaints with the inspector general. California Governor Jerry Brown and the First Lady also extended their deepest condolences to Nehring's family and friends. Committee votes on major defense policy bill expected in May, Military families share workout with first lady Jill Biden, US conducts first evacuation of its citizens from Sudan war, Ukrainian drones strike Crimea oil depot, Russian official says, Interior designers remodel Jack Teixeiras camo bedroom monstrosity, Understanding the role of artificial intelligence, Mark Kitz keynote speech at the C4ISRNET conference, The latest on software, data and artificial intelligence, Russians seem to be baiting US jets to dogfight in Syria, general says, Biden awards football trophy to Air Force Academy, Commanders suspended at base where alleged Pentagon leaker worked, Military sex assault reports rise, even as Army numbers fall, Davis-Monthan to launch new special operations wing as A-10 retires. Maj. Gen. Clay L. Garrison, the top commander of the 4,700-member air guard, was dismissed for being unable to maintain a positive command climate, said Lt. Col. Thomas Keegan, spokesman for the California Military Department. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing this? Ron DeSantis replaced the Florida National Guard's adjutant general two years ago amid revelations of sexual abuse, coverups and reprisal. Recruiters: Gen. Jeffrey Magram will be involuntarily transferred next week to the U.S. Air Force retired reserve, an action that is parallel to a firing, California National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Brandon Hill said Friday. A third high-ranking officer in the California Air National Guard has been removed from his position because of complaints he made whistleblowers feel threatened at the 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno, By Most of the allegations against Magram were first disclosed in a Times report in June. Jennifer Pineda, a 15-year veteran of the guard, was about to change into her uniform in a womens bathroom at the 144th Fighter Wing when she discovered her boots had been soiled. She said in her complaint she feared she'd be forced out of the military because some had speculated that she urinated in her own boots for attention.. 4/23 update:The LA Times has dug into the California Air National Guard scandal. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Former military lawyer Scott Taylor tells us the story now is less about the crime and more about officers accusing their superiors of covering it up. That culminated in his firing. California National Guard members watch over an access point to the Capitol in Sacramento. How Palm Springs ran out Black and Latino families to build a fantasy for rich, white people, 17 SoCal hiking trails that are blooming with wildflowers (but probably not for long! 2019 the Los Angeles Times. Sikora was suspended as the wing's Operations Group leader in December. RELATED: U.S. airman killed in training exercise in Ukraine confirmed from 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno, In a statement, U.S. Air Force Col. Daniel Kelly, commander of the 144th Fighter Wing said, "We are a close-knit family and when a tragedy like this occurs, every member of the 144th Fighter Wing feels it. Brig. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Contact the Public Affairs Office at: 144FW.HQ.PublicAffairs@us.af.mil, Directory: The papers inquiries began with reports that someone urinated in a female Guard members boots, an incident that led to allegations of a cover-up and retaliation against whistleblowers. Weeks later, the longtime head of the Guard, Maj . (559) 453-5461 FRESNO, Calif. (AP) The head of the California Air National Guard, Major General Clay Garrison, was relieved of his command and replaced by Brigadier General Gregory Jones two months after a newspaper detailed the fallout from a scandal involving someone urinating in the boots of a service member. The scandal dates back to March 2015, when Staff Sgt. Latest The report was prepared by Brig. They patrol state airspace and stand ready to respond to natural disasters and large-scale terrorist attacks. 144th Fighter Wing taking to the skies for night-flight . 144th Fighter Wing Public Affairs. Public File for KMAX-TV / Good Day Sacramento. The scandal dates back to March 2015, when Staff Sgt. Woodside says the IG system isn't working right now, though, because investigators aren't acting independently of wing commanders. She also signed off on the request to discard the evidence. 144th FW signs Heritage jet. Brig. They patrol state airspace and stand ready to respond to natural disasters and large-scale terrorist attacks. Both were inconclusive, and the case was closed. The head of the California Air National Guard and one of its five wing commanders have been removed from their positions amid complaints of reprisals against whistleblowers and allegations of a cover-up of misconduct that reached into the highest ranks of the organization, officials announced Friday. ", By The scandal dates back to March 2015, when Staff Sgt. Jones has served as assistant adjutant general since December 2017. I want to reiterate that had I ever heard of any ethics issues like this from subordinates, peers or commanders, or perceptions of such, I would have corrected or addressed it on the spot, Magram said in a statement to an inspector general. At least five Guard members, including a pilot who was killed in October in a crash during a training mission in Ukraine, from the 144th wing filed formal complaints. The first of three investigations launched right after Staff Sgt. Maj. Dan Woodside, a retired 144th fighter pilot who is a witness in an inspector general's Pineda investigation and has complained about how she was treated, said Guard members were afraid to approach Garrison with any reports of wrongdoing, fearing they would be punished. Except When Its Not. Gen. Gregory Jones two months after a newspaper detailed the fallout from a scandal involving someone urinating in the boots of a service member. To ensure they are prepared for the task at hand, the 144th Fighter Wing, Security Forces Squadron, trains for Agile Combat Employment at Camp Roberts, California, Feb. 2, 2023. Magram, who was once director of the Guard's air staff, is the fifth general to resign, retire or be fired in the wake of scandals exposed by Times investigations of the organization over the last four years. The vast majority means all of you, except for a couple of you, and they know who they are so we don't need to call them out. Garrison did not act alone in this. Oops! Dont Put Plastic Bags in That Blue Recycling Cart! To find out about jobs in the Air National Guard check out: https://www.goang.com/ Public Affairs This website is managed by the Public Affairs Office. In an email to The Times, Hill said an internal disciplinary board substantiated the allegations against Magram, and the general was removed for cause. The boards action came after two separate inquiries into Magrams conduct by military inspectors general; directives to dismiss him were issued by Gov. Overview. The command change follows a Los Angeles Times report on allegations that whistleblowers at the Guards Fresno base suffered reprisals for questioning actions or conduct, including an incident in which a female guardsman discovered urine in her boots. The document quoted one unnamed Guard member as saying he did not want to drive Magram because my job is to take care of the airmen in the state of California and not be a chauffeur for a general.. The California air guard is the second largest, after New York's, in the Air National Guard, which is a force of more than 100,000 pilots, other officers and enlisted people. FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Fresno's 144th Fighter Wing is under scrutiny from the U.S. Air Force Inspector General's Office because of a disgusting discovery four years ago. Members of the 144th's security forces, who police the base, conducted two investigations into the Pineda incident, according to internal investigative records obtained by The Times. Chris Drudge), U.S. airman killed in training exercise in Ukraine confirmed from 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno. This website is managed by the Public Affairs Office. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. He said the same about his decision to fire Maj. Gen. Gregory Jones, commander of the air wing of the Guard. The head of the California Air National Guard and one of its five wing commanders have been removed from their positions amid complaints of reprisals against whistleblowers and allegations of a cover-up of misconduct that reached into the highest ranks of the organization, officials announced Friday. To find out about jobs in the Air National Guard check out: Public Scoping Process: July 19 - Sept. 2, 2022, COVID-19 What is the U.S. Government doing, FRESNO RELATIVE RISK SITE EVALUATION FACT SHEET & SCORING SUMMARIES, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. Col. Jeremiah Cruz was named Kelly's interim replacement. The scandal dates back to March 2015, when Staff Sgt. Beevers and Newsom did not respond to requests for comment made through spokespersons. FRESNO, Calif. The head of the California Air National Guard, Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison, was relieved of command and replaced by Brig. This went on for about two weeks, until he had the training completed by a subordinate. SACRAMENTO, Calif. Grand juries in Fresno and Sacramento have indicted eight current or former members of the California National Guard, in seven separate cases, charging them with wire fraud for fraudulently obtaining recruiting referral bonuses, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. It said Sikora used insulting and defamatory language in remarks to subordinates. Charles Vaughn). Alene Tchekmedyian And Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times Alene Tchekmedyian And Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times Voting Is Fast and Easy on Recall Day. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? Published Apr 7, 2019 3:26 PM EDT. The commander of the 144th Fighter Wing at the Fresno base was also removed. It just took her a long time to decide what she wanted, a lot of comparison shopping amongst products.. Rob Swertfager, also filed a complaint alleging that commanders punished him including by withholding his pay on occasion for going to bat for Pineda. John Oliver's Parody Book Among Most 'Challenged' Works, Newsom Says His El Salvador Trip a Counter to Trump, Hear Mayor, Councilmembers Share Vision for $20 Million Senior Center on Blackstone. FRESNO, Calif. (AP) The head of the California Air National Guard, Major General Clay Garrison, was relieved of his command and replaced by Brigadier General Gregory Jones two months after a newspaper detailed the fallout from a scandal involving someone urinating in the boots of a service member. Local Education Fresno Weather: Its a Dry Heat. Garrison's only guidance, Johnston wrote, was that he first confer with the 144th's judge advocate general at the time. Our traditional members serve one weekend each month and about two weeks each year, with opportunities for full-time employment. | Copyright 2023 KFSN-TV. (559) 454-5100 Disgusting discovery, accusations of cover-up at Fresno's 144th Fighter Wing. Baldwin later removed the commander of the Guards air side, Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison. Three days later, the report said, he called a mandatory meeting of his subordinates to discuss his suspension. Jennifer Pineda, a 15-year veteran of the guard, was about to change into her uniform in a women's bathroom at the 144th Fighter Wing when she discovered her boots had been soiled. It all happened under his watchful eye, but he was not alone in allowing this to happen.. Airman & Family Readiness Office: The Fresno Air National Guard base is home to the 144th . He said he believed that having subordinates give him rides to medical appointments was consistent with the Air Forces wingman concept, in which Guard members look out for one another. Then something changed, Most of Yosemite Valley is closed due to potentially perilous snowpack and flooding, 7 hospitalized after driver in stolen car runs red light in San Bernardino, police say, Barstow police investigating after officer caught on video hitting man with a baton, Man found guilty of murdering teens who ding-dong-ditched his house, Sacramento, San Francisco mayors take shots at each others city before NBA playoff game, Unseasonable rain, cooler temperatures in forecast for Los Angeles this week. The 144th is the biggest wing in the state, home to roughly 115 officers, including about two dozen fighter pilots, and more than 1,000 enlistees in support units. An F-117 Nighthawks at the Fresno Air National Guard Base in California, September 15, 2021 . Magram said in his statement that he was late in completing the training because of a tremendously busy operational tempo.. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Keegan said Garrison will retire in the coming weeks. The head of the California Air National Guard, Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison, was relieved of his command and replaced by Brig. He flew the F-16 Viper for more than 15 years, before converting to the F-15 Eagle. They deserve better., He said the Guard now has an opportunity to get a fresh start with new leadership.. The Air National Guard is a reserve component of the United State Air Force. Fresno Guard pilots who step into an F-16 cockpit might risk their lives or carry in their hands the survival of others and the. A recent spate of alleged misconduct by high-ranking officers underscores the need for reform in Californias National Guard, current and former Guard members say. Lt. Col. Seth "Jethro" Nehring, 44, was killed while taking part in a familiarization flight in a Russian-built Su-27UB fighter jet with a Ukrainian counterpart. But fellow officers are questioning the investigations, complaining about retaliation for their contributions and a potential cover-up. One of the jets was a single-engine F-16C Fighting . It's unfortunate that the young people in the California Air National Guard, our citizen soldiers, have to witness this type of activity that's occurring at the top, Bakos said Friday. The 20,000-member Guard, a branch of the California Military Department, which is also led by the adjutant general, serves a dual mission that includes responding to emergencies in the state, such as earthquakes, wildfires and civil disturbances, and assisting U.S. armed forces in military operations overseas. Jones was unavailable for comment, Keegan said. Lt. Col. Seth "Jethro" Nehring stands in front of a Ukrainian Su-27UB aircraft parked at the Starokostiantyniv air base in the Khmelnytskyi region of western Ukraine. The Air Force says that Nehring was handpicked to take part in Clear Sky due to his more than 20-year career as a pilot flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-15 Eagle aircraft. FRESNO, Calif. - The roar of two fighter jets flying over Fresno marked the beginning of a new era June 18. A 144th pilot, Lt. Col. Nehring was a fighter pilot with the California Air National Guard's 194th Fighter Squadron, part of the 144th Fighter Wing based at the Fresno Air National Guard Base, located on the southeast corner of Fresno-Yosemite International Airport. The familiarization flights give NATO service members an opportunity to ride in Soviet or Russian-built aircraft, like the Su-27UB fighter jet. Investigators reached no conclusions that time around either. After queries by The Times, however, the Guard said a second inquiry had substantiated similar allegations against him, and another round of discipline was pending. The exercise is a joint and multinational exercise that will involve approximately 950 personnel from nine nations. Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison, California Air National Guard commander, addresses service members from participating countries during the opening ceremony for Clear Sky 2018 exercise at Starokostiantyniv Air Base, Ukraine, Oct. 8, 2018. It's all part of. Latest Some in the wing refer to the scandal as Pissgate., The saga dates to March 2015, when Staff Sgt. A third high-ranking officer in the California Air National Guard has been removed from his position because of complaints he made whistleblowers feel threatened at the 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno. Pineda filed a whistleblower complaint, in which she wrote that she feared she would be forced out of the military because some had speculated that she urinated in her own boots for attention. She wanted the DNA test to clear her name. A third high-ranking officer in the California Air National Guard has been removed from his position because of complaints he made whistleblowers feel threatened at the 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno. Local A guard spokesman, Lt. Col. Jonathan Shiroma, on Friday confirmed the shake-up, but he did not have additional details. FRESNO, Calif. (AP) The head of the California Air National Guard, Major General Clay Garrison, was relieved of his command and replaced by Brigadier General Gregory Jones two months after a newspaper detailed the fallout from a scandal involving someone urinating in the boots of a service member. He says new rules instituted in 2016 might make the incident a more serious crime, which would've brought in more seasoned investigators. In interviews with the Times, several current and former members of the Guard described a culture of retaliation by high-ranking officers and mistrust in the inspector general system intended to hold them accountable. In a memorandum to Magram that The Times obtained this week, Beevers wrote, Your conduct has caused me to lose faith, trust, and confidence in your ability to continue serving.. Based on this article, and in addition to other evidence collected, it would appear that there is a culture of reprisal, or at a minimum the perception of reprisal, that has a long stemmed history within the 144th, the inspector general report states. The complaints focused on the Guard's Fresno air base and included an incident in which someone urinated in a female Guard member's boots. The 144th is renowned for its F-15 pilots working to protect California and the country. A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle fighter jet assigned to the California Air National Guard's 144th Fighter Wing has made some passes and garnered attention on the internet recently, after . The retirement of Maj. Gen. David Baldwin comes weeks after a Times investigation detailed alleged misconduct among high-ranking officers. Both of them, along with others, felt targeted by Sikora's remarks, the report said. The head of the California Air National Guard and one of its five wing commanders have been removed from their positions amid complaints of reprisals against whistleblowers and allegations of. Col. Dave Johnston, a commander who signed off on the evidence destruction, said in statements provided to The Times that he had consulted with Garrison before doing so. Copyright 2023 KFSN-TV. The jets made a pass over a crowd of National Guard members and civilians who had assembled in front of the 144th Fighter Wing's maintenance hangar on the Fresno Air National Guard Base. Garrison ran the base at the time of the incident. Troy Havener, 144th Fighter Wing commander, said, "We have the distinct honor of being the . Maj. Gen. David Baldwin, who oversees both the air and army branches of the California Guard as adjutant general of the Military Department, was unavailable for comment, Keegan said. The 20,000-member Guard, a branch of the California Military Department, which is also led by the adjutant general, serves a dual mission that includes responding to emergencies in the state,. The urine incident and its aftermath fueled suspicions within the Guard that high-ranking officers, including Garrison, mishandled two investigations to find the perpetrator and tried to bury the episode to protect someone who may have been involved, according to interviews and Guard records obtained by the Times. Pineda filed a whistleblower complaint, in which she wrote that she feared she'd be forced out of the military because some had speculated that she urinated in her own boots for attention.. A guard spokesman on Friday, April 5, 2019, confirmed the shakeup, but did not have additional details. Jennifer Pineda, a 15-year veteran of the guard, was about to change into her uniform in a womens bathroom at the 144th when she discovered her boots had been soiled. Entertainment In 2020, in response to another Times report, Newsoms office denounced the Guards decision to send a military spy plane to suburban El Dorado Hills, where Baldwin lived, to help civilian authorities monitor demonstrations over the police killing of George Floyd. Both were inconclusive, and the case was closed. A Guard member who took Magrams mother shopping was quoted in the report as saying that she was particular. The document also cites the cybersecurity episode as grounds for dismissing him, stating that he let a subordinate click through the training questions and obtain a certificate of completion for you., The memo further recounts that a 2021 survey of Guard members found that they experienced significant issues with unit cohesion, good order, and military discipline because of [Magrams] conduct.. An internal inquiry also determined that Sikora improperly excoriated a retired pilot for speaking to The Times, the report said. The California Air National Guard is the second largest unit in the Air Guard, a force of more than 100,000 pilots, other officers and enlisted people. (559) 454-5383 "This is a problem with their leadership.". Jones has served as assistant adjutant general since December 2017. The commander of the fighter squadron at the time, Col. Sean Navin, was one of the drinkers. Gavin Newsom referred questions about Friday's shakeup back to the Guard. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Alene Tchekmedyian And Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times, were removed in the wake of a Times investigation, Head Of The California Air National Guard Dismissed After Alleged Cover-up In 'Pissgate' Scandal.
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