ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. - Lt. Gen. Stanley E. "Sid" Clarke III made his first visit to the 116th Air Control Wing Wednesday since becoming the director of the Air National Guard.
Clarke got a first-hand look at the E-8C aircraft and Total Force team, including the 116th and 461st Air Control Wings and 138th Military Intelligence Company operating Joint STARS, or Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System.
During his visit, Clarke also received a mission briefing, observed aircraft maintenance operations and viewed demonstrations by the Explosive Ordnance Flight and the Medical Group’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives Enhanced Response Force.
"This was a fantastic opportunity for the CERFP team to show the director of the Air National Guard what we are capable of and our passion for the mission," said Maj. Stephen Baffic, a Homeland Response Force surgeon.
Throughout the tour, Clarke met with several Team JSTARS Airmen and presented challenge coins to each for their superior performance including: Senior Master Sgt. Maldvina Anderson, 116th Medical Group, Master Sgt. Roger Parsons, 116th Wing Staff, Tech. Sgt. Jose Padilla from the 116th Force Support Squadron, Tech. Sgt. Jeremy (last name removed for security reasons), 129th Combat Training Squadron and Staff Sgt. Zachary Williams, 116th Maintenance Squadron.
"You folks do Total Force Integration right" said Clarke. "You do a great job every day; my thanks for what you do."
The 116th ACW is an Active Associate Air National Guard wing providing command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of homeland and national defense and to support civil authorities.