Duluth’s 148th Fighter Wing To Deploy 300 Personnel This Summer

DULUTH, Minn. — “The Bulldogs of the 148th Fighter Wing are ready to provide a trained and equipped aviation package of airmen and Block 50 F-16 aircraft to meet the needs of our deployed location,” said Col. Nate Aysta, Commander of the 148th Fighter Wing.

The Minnesota National Guard’s 148th Fighter Wing is getting ready to deploy about 300 personnel overseas this summer.

The deployment announced in a news conference Wednesday will last about 3 months. The location has not been released yet however they expect to announce it when crews are in place. Since 2005 the 148th has deployed to Iraq several times, Afghanistan, the Republic of South Korea, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. A key thing in deployments is making sure members and their families are supported during their time apart and throughout their careers.

“In the National Guard especially everybody is so dispersed throughout your entire state. Some people live in other places throughout the country. So, having that extra support and those phone calls are really important to kind of help those families feel connected like they’re not alone out in the community trying to deal with this,” said Suzy Hartwick, Airman and Family Readiness Programs Manager at the 148th Fighter Wing.

One program is called Beyond the Yellow Ribbon and it connects agencies to meet military family needs. Something people don’t always think about is childcare. The American Red Cross will host babysitting clinics to train older military kids to help out. The Military Affairs Committee in Duluth helps provide the funding to make those resources available.

“Childcare is a big deal. Babysitting is a big deal. So, we’re going to help pay for the training to have a bigger pool of kids that are willing to help babysit the mother, or the father being deployed, whatever the case might be to have that bigger pool. That’s just an example,” said Daniel Fanning, Vice President of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, also representing the Military Affairs Committee.

148th members are committed to serving our country. Deployments are what they train to do. For the most part those that deploy all volunteer to go.