fresno air national guard scandal

Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. A Guard spokesman, Lt. Col. Jonathan Shiroma, on Friday confirmed the shake-up, but he did not have additional details. Two of those were related to the urine incident, including one filed by Pineda. She wanted the DNA test to clear her name. Kelly's future in the Guard has yet to be determined, Keegan said. Both of them, along with others, felt targeted by Sikora's remarks, the report said. 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. Weeks later, the longtime head of the Guard, Maj. Gen. David Baldwin, retired. Woodside says the IG system isn't working right now, though, because investigators aren't acting independently of wing commanders. The vast majority of you are good people who are killing it in a high ops tempo year, you're very honorable, red-blooded Americans, Sikora said at the meeting, according to the report. Gov. Several Guard members took Sikora's remarks as a criticism of people who had filed complaints with the inspector general. It is the first official organic story about the F-117's operations since the aircraft was retired in 2008: The 144th Fighter Wing welcomed the arrival of two F-117 Nighthawk aircraft Sept 13, 2021. When I say particular, it had to be at Whole Foods. 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. 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. FRESNO AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, CA -- The 144th Fighter Wing welcomed the arrival of two F-117 Nighthawk aircraft Sept 13, 2021 to the Fresno Air National Guard Base, California, to conduct dissimilar air combat training missions. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Published Apr 15, 2019 10:00 AM EDT. Local Education ), At Willie Nelson 90, country, rock and rap stars pay tribute, but Willie and Trigger steal the show, Concertgoer lets out a loud full body orgasm while L.A. Phil plays Tchaikovskys 5th, Plaschke: Lakers live up to their legacy with a close-out win for the ages, L.A. Affairs: I had my reasons for not dating white men. 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,. Magram became the focus of more upheaval last summer, when The Times disclosed that an internal probe found that he had on-duty Guard members drive him up to 120 miles round-trip to personal dental and medical appointments at Travis Air Force Base, according to a confidential report on the inquiry. Voting Is Fast and Easy on Recall Day. Col. Victor Sikora was relieved of command after engaging in conduct unbecoming of an officer by addressing a gathering of Guard members in a manner some found intimidating and humiliating, according to a report released Friday. The 144th Fighter Wing (144 FW) is a unit of the California Air National Guard, stationed at Fresno Air National Guard Base, California. 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. But at least five of its Air National Guard members have filed internal complaints about a nasty incident and other concerns. 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. U.S. Air Force Col. Members of the 144th's security forces, who police the base, conducted two investigations, according to internal investigative records obtained by the Times. 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 Fresno Air National Guard base hosted a ribbon cutting for its new fuel storage facilities, featuring tanks with increased capacities. Must be between the age of 17 and 40. FILE - In this April 12, 2006, file photo, then US Air Force Lt. Col. Clay "Slam" Garrison, Weapons Officer assigned with the 144th Fighter Wing of the California Air National Guard, explains the units area of coverage on a map of California in Fresno, Calif. The two-seat Su-27UB went down on Tuesday in western Ukraine. This went on for about two weeks, until he had the training completed by a subordinate. He Toppled Vince McMahon. Police investigating early morning homicide in Porterville, Child among 5 killed by drunk gunman still on loose: TX police, 1 missing, 2 rescued after getting swept away in Kaweah River. Crime 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. The scandal dates back to March 2015, when Staff Sgt. The inquiry also determined that Magram failed to complete his annual cybersecurity training and thus had lower-ranking Guard members each day request that headquarters temporarily restore his computer access. California National Guard members watch over an access point to the Capitol in Sacramento. FRESNO, Calif. The head of the California Air National Guard, Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison, was relieved of command and replaced by Brig. 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. 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. Both were inconclusive, and the case was closed. 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 . The complaints focused on the organizations Fresno air base and included an incident in which someone urinated in a female Guard members boots. It all happened under his watchful eye, but he was not alone in allowing this to happen.. Will Political Reality Shape a Mighty Morro Bay Wind? Consent from a parent or 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. Phone: (559) 454-5246 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. The 144th is renowned for its F-15 pilots working to protect California and the country. "This is not a problem with the rank and file, the rank and file pilots or the great people that do their job out there every day," he said. 2019 the Los Angeles Times. Airman & Family Readiness Office: | Gen. Gregory Jones two months after a newspaper detailed the fallout from a scandal involving someone urinating in the boots of a service member. 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. They deserve better., He said the Guard now has an opportunity to get a fresh start with new leadership.. 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. Sikora did not respond to requests for comment Friday. A member of the Judge Advocate General Corps, Maj . The retirement of Maj. Gen. David Baldwin comes weeks after a Times investigation detailed alleged misconduct among high-ranking officers. 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. 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. Dave Bakos, a retired general who served in the Guard for 32 years and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, was among those who said Garrison should have demanded a more thorough investigation from the start. What Dyer Had to Say. A guard spokesman, Lt. Col. Jonathan Shiroma, on Friday confirmed the shake-up, but he did not have additional details. Gavin Newsom referred questions about Friday's shakeup back to the Guard. 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.. Administrators at the Fighter Wing didn't respond to our request for comment, but after the L.A. Times started asking about the Pineda episode, the California Military Department asked the U.S. Air Force Inspector General's Office to conduct a third investigation. The head of the California Air National Guard, Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison, was relieved of his command and replaced by Brig. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. They patrol state airspace and stand ready to respond to natural disasters and large-scale terrorist attacks. Keegan said Garrison will retire in the coming weeks. 4/23 update:The LA Times has dug into the California Air National Guard scandal. Police investigating early morning homicide in Porterville, Child among 5 killed by drunk gunman still on loose: TX police, 1 missing, 2 rescued after getting swept away in Kaweah River. 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. Most of the allegations against Magram were first disclosed in a Times report in June. Magram said in his statement that he was late in completing the training because of a tremendously busy operational tempo.. Public Affairs Office: 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. Woodside retired from the unit in 2016, so he talked freely with Action News about the investigations into someone urinating in Pineda's uniform. This website is managed by the Public Affairs Office. Alene Tchekmedyian And Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times 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. ID cardquestions and appointments: Attempts to reach Magram for comment were unsuccessful. 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. 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. 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. He says new rules instituted in 2016 might make the incident a more serious crime, which would've brought in more seasoned investigators. Sports. Allegations of retaliation against whistleblowers in the California National Guard are more widespread than the complaints made at a Fresno air base that led to a dramatic leadership shakeup of the organization earlier this month, The Times has found. Please enter valid email address to continue. The Air Force says that Nehring has been a member of the 144th for more than 20 years. "If there was a smoking gun, they took it and threw it right in the river," said Maj. Woodside. Gen. Tim Rieger, who was tasked by Maj. Gen. David Baldwin, head of the California Military Department, with investigating Sikora's actions. Jones has served as assistant adjutant general since December 2017. The 194th is equipped with the F-15 Eagle and like its parent wing, the 144th Griffins, is operationally-gained within the active U.S. Air Force by the Air Combat Command (ACC). Friday's report said that Sikora's conduct also had a chilling effect on Guard members by discouraging them from exercising their rights to seek redress through the organization's inspector general, their representatives in Congress or the news media. 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. But everybody else.. She wanted the DNA test to clear her name. 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.. Fresno Weather: Its a Dry Heat. A guard spokesman on Friday, April 5, 2019, confirmed the shakeup, but did not have additional details. At least five guard members from the 144th wing filed formal complaints. He flew the F-16 Viper for more than 15 years, before converting to the F-15 Eagle. The preferred location for the new F-35A squadron is Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass., while the F-15EXs are slated for Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, La., and Fresno Air National Guard Base, Calif. All three bases currently operate older F-15C/D model fighters which the Air Force wants to retire in the coming years. 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. Weather, Education Stunning 4K videos show F-117s operating in California more than a decade after the stealth jet retired. FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - The skies above Super Bowl LVI were safe Sunday thanks to tactical fighter aircraft based in Fresno. Baldwin later removed the commander of the Guard's air side, Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison. Jennifer Pineda found out someone urinated in her uniform boots. Woodside says it should've been handled differently from the start, especially since people in command positions might've been involved. Baldwin later removed the commander of the Guards air side, Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison. Garrison was the top commander of the air guard, and Kelly headed the 144th wing. 144th FW signs Heritage jet. 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. 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Jones, who has served as an assistant adjutant general in the Guard since December 2017, was appointed to replace Garrison. Troy Havener, 144th Fighter Wing commander, said, "We have the distinct honor of being the . Brig. 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 guard member discovered urine in her boots. (559) 454-5286 The California air guard is the second largest in the Air National Guard, a force of more than 100,000 pilots, other officers and enlisted people. Now Eric Bischoff to Tell Story in Fresno. Garrison and Kelly did not respond to interview requests. 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! The Air Force initially issued a letter of admonishment to Magram as a result of the first inspector general investigation. This clearly means that anyone exercising their right to speak with the IG or the press is not honorable, not a good person, and implies they are not a red-blooded American, the report quotes Swertfager as saying. 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. Chris Drudge), U.S. airman killed in training exercise in Ukraine confirmed from 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno. Members of the Guard described a "climate of retaliationand mistrust. 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. Lt. Col. Nehring and a Ukrainian service member were killed when the Ukrainian Su-27UB aircraft they were in crashed during a familiarization flight. A spokesman for Gov. 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. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. | Our traditional members serve one weekend each month and about two weeks each year, with opportunities for full-time employment. 144th Fighter Wing Public Affairs. Garrison was removed because the California Military Department, which oversees the air and army branches of the Guard, had lost faith, trust and confidence in his ability to lead, a spokesman said. We share in the sorrow felt by Jethro's loved ones and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends as well as those of the Ukrainian aviator.". The familiarization flights give NATO service members an opportunity to ride in Soviet or Russian-built aircraft, like the Su-27UB fighter jet. Recruiters: Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. 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. General requirements include: AGE. Rob Swertfager, also filed a complaint alleging that commanders punished him including by withholding his pay on occasion for going to bat for Pineda. Captain Nehring is an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot with California Air National Guard's 194th Fighter Squadron in Fresno. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 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. News, Latest U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael Loh paid a visit to the California Air National Guards 144th Fighter Wing where he engaged with Airmen during their drill Feb. 4, 2023, at the Fresno Air National Guard Base. FRESNO, Calif. The head of the California Air National Guard, Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison, was relieved of command and replaced by Brig. In early 2019, a Times report disclosed internal complaints of reprisals against whistleblowers and allegations of a cover-up of misconduct among the Guard leadership. 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. News, Appetite for Fresno Col. Jeremiah Cruz was named Kelly's interim replacement. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing this? It said Sikora used insulting and defamatory language in remarks to subordinates. Hawkins told The Times that those allegations are largely untrue and specifically denied making the statement about terrorist attacks. (559) 453-5461 Among the other disclosures by The Times were the Guards use of a spy plane to monitor civilian protesters and fears in the ranks that it planned to deploy a fighter jet to frighten demonstrators. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Both were inconclusive, and the case was closed. Public File for KMAX-TV / Good Day Sacramento. Club One Casino Readies Move to Granite Park, Fresno Scandal Forces Out Air National Guard Commander, Fresno State Announces Class of 2023 Graduate Deans' Medalists.

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