22 May 2024
DULUTH — Col. Nate Aysta, commander of the 148th Fighter Wing of the Minnesota Air National Guard, announced Wednesday the unit is preparing for a summer deployment overseas.
He could not disclose the destination due to security protocols.
About 300 members of the 148th, or nearly one-third of the unit, stand ready to deploy in waves.
“The National Guard is a combat-ready reserve of the Air Force, providing mission-ready airmen to safeguard the homeland and execute global operations,” Aysta said at a news conference at the Duluth base, with a Block 50 F-16 fighter jet in the background.
The deployment is expected to last about three months. Further details should become available once the 148th has been positioned for duty.
Aysta noted that the 148th is no stranger to service abroad, having been deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, South Korea, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in recent years.
Suzy Hartwick, manager of the 148th’s Airmen and Family Readiness Programs, acknowledged unit members will miss out on family events, birthdays, sports events and other significant moments during their deployment. But she said the 148th remains committed to providing a support network for airmen and their families back home.
Hartwick said the unit also receives much community support from other organizations, such as the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, the YMCA and the American Red Cross, which will help train babysitters to provide child care services during the deployment.
“We have a program called our Key Support Liaison, or our Key Volunteer Program,” Hartwick said, “where we have other spouses or connected family members to our members here on base, and they will reach out to our families during times of deployment to check in on them and make sure they’re getting the resources they need.
“Sometimes a family might just need someone to talk to who understands the experience they’re going through,” she said.
Aysta said 148th members are generally eager to serve their country.
“This is what they train to do: to deploy. So, generally speaking, we don’t have a problem filling these deployments with volunteers, because they want to go do their jobs,” he said.
Chamber Vice President Daniel Fanning serves on a local military affairs committee formed about 20 years ago, when there was talk of closing the Duluth base.
“And what happened then was this community really rallied around the 148th, because it’s such a vital part of our community, our region, our state and our country,” Fanning recalled.
He said committee members have advocated for the 148th to help it obtain upgraded jets, the latest equipment and updated facilities, such as new hangar space.
During deployments, the military affairs committee also redoubles its efforts to serve military families and help them meet emerging needs, Fanning said.
Minnesota Power employs more than 100 people with military service connections, said Jennifer Cady, the company’s vice president of regulatory and legislative affairs.
Minnesota Power has been recognized as a Yellow Ribbon employer because of the large number of military service members in its workforce and its demonstrated history of providing support.
“You know, we’re really proud of the 148th Fighter Wing Bulldogs and their service to our state and nation and really feel like this is an opportunity for us as an employer to do our part,” Cady said. “We don’t ever want service members to worry about work back home when they’re doing their important work overseas,” she said.
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