An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Jan. 13, 2025

114th Fighter Wing Exchanges Jets with 122nd Fighter Wing

By Airman 1st Class Kyle St Pierre, 114th Fighter Wing

JOE FOSS FIELD, S.D. – The 114th Fighter Wing is exchanging F-16s with the 122nd Fighter Wing based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, creating an opportunity to exercise mission readiness and improve relations with other units.

“By building good partners and relationships, we can work off each other’s strengths for anything that comes our way,” said Maj. Anthony Demma, director of operations, 175th Fighter Squadron.

The 122nd FW began transitioning from the A-10 ThunderBolt II aircraft to the F-16 Fighting Falcons in October 2023. The Indiana-based unit requested assistance with its mission to get pilots and maintainers the training and experience necessary to use their new aircraft. With the 122nd FW training period approaching, they asked to exchange a select number of F-16s from the 114th FW for its upgraded radar and avionic systems.

“We have a wealth of knowledge here since we’ve been flying F-16s for multiple years now,” said Demma. “Their squadron recently converted to using the F-16s, so this exchange will help ease the learning curve as they’re standing up their base.”

The exchange enables both units to work on teamwork, mission readiness, and capabilities as a total Air Force.

“The jet exchange is a really cool opportunity that we are learning from as we contribute to the total force,” said Bak.

The exchange has presented the 114th FW and 122nd FW a great way to build relations and prepare for future missions.

“Fostering a good working relationship with another base is always beneficial,” said Bak. “We’ve been there, done that, and the fact that we’re going to be able to join forces as two separate Guard units to utilize our resources is going to make it much, much easier.”

 

 

Related Articles
A KC-135R Stratotanker assigned to the 155th Air Refueling Wing along with an F-16 from the 114th Fighter Wing fly over over Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska, Aug. 30, 2023, for a University of Nebraska volleyball game. The flyover celebrated Volleyball Day in Nebraska, where 92,003 fans became the largest crowd in the world to witness a women’s sporting event.
National Guard Airmen Participate in World Record Event
By Staff Sgt. Lisa Crawford, | Sept. 26, 2023
LINCOLN, Neb. – A KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the Nebraska National Guard’s 155th Air Refueling Wing and three F-16 Fighting Falcons from the South Dakota National Guard’s 114th Fighter Wing flew over Memorial Stadium for...

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Falcon from the South Dakota Air National Guard’s 114th Fighter Wing based in Sioux Falls receives fuel while in flight from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 assigned to the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing based in Sioux City while flying over South Dakota March 19, 2019.
Air Force Marks 100 years of Air Refueling with Flyovers
By Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot, | June 26, 2023
SIOUX CITY, Iowa - On June 27, the U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command plans nationwide flyovers involving over 150 aircraft to commemorate 100 years of air refueling. Air refueling units will perform flyovers at major...

Maj. Addison Harding, an F-16 pilot assigned to the 114th Fighter Wing in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, swims during a SERE refresher course at the Midco Aquatic Center in Sioux Falls Sept. 30, 2022.
Aircrews Train to Survive in Hostile Territory
By Master Sgt. Daniel Ter Haar, | Nov. 7, 2022
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – No pilot would ever like to be behind enemy lines or in the middle of the wilderness. This is where Master Sgt. Jeff Campbell’s experience comes into play.As a survival, evasion, resistance and escape...