Doug Otto is the new state command chief for the Montana Air National Guard. The traditional Guardsman is also a lieutenant at the Great Falls Police Department. Otto assumed the position in early May. The command chief is the senior enlisted airman within a military component and Otto advises the commander of the Montana Air National Guard, Brig. Gen. Pete
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By Spc. Michael Hunnisett | Army Public Affairs Special to The Electric Members of the Montana National Guard, including 14 soldiers and two airmen, have been participating in Cyber Shield 18 at Camp Atterbury, Ind. this month. The exercise includes members of the National Guard from 30 states, the U.S. Army Reserve, state and federal government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private
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For the first time in 70 years, a member of Brig. Gen. Bryan Fox’s family is not in the Montana Air National Guard. Fox relinquished command during a Saturday morning ceremony as assistant adjutant general of the Montana National Guard and commander of the Montana Air National Guard. Gov. Steve Bullock presided over the ceremony and said to Fox, “you’ve
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Vigilant Guard, an emergency response exercise, kicks off in Great Falls on Friday. Locals will see an influx of military members and more aircraft activity in the area during the exercise, which runs through March 7. Vigilant Guard 18 is a National Guard Bureau and U.S. Northern Command civil support exercise. The training will include soldiers and airmen of the
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City staff are recommending denial of the request to annex 20.98 acres for the proposed Wheat Ridge development behind the east side Walmart. Staff is recommending denial of the annexation, as well as assigning a Planned Unit Development Zoning and preliminary plat requests for the project. The city’s Planning Advisory Board/Zoning Commission is the first major board to review the
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The tension between economic development and protecting the airspace around Malmstrom Air Force Base is likely to tighten as a new proposal works through the city process. A request for annexation of 20 acres behind the east side Walmart has been submitted to the city. The action would also include a planned unit development zoning. The plan for the first
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Christmas Eve for many members of the Montana Air National Guard, means an early morning at the base dining hall preparing turkeys, gravy and stuffing. This year was no different and about 45 airmen and their families volunteered throughout the morning to put 50 turkeys in the over, chop onions and celery for stuffing and stir all the lumps out
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A wood shop for veterans to refresh, hone or learn new skills has always been a part of the plan for the old garage at the Grace Home, a transitional housing facility for homeless veterans. Now that the home has been open a little more than a year, the plan for that wood shop is getting some additional community support.
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Gov. Steve Bullock has ordered all flags flown in the state to be flown at half-staff on Dec. 7 in observance of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. “On this 76th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, we honor those American patriots who lost their lives on that fateful day, and reaffirm our commitment to the ideals of freedom and liberty
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When airmen from the 219th RED HORSE Squadron of the Montana Air National Guard landed in Puerto Rico in October, they could still see the devastation left the previous month by Hurricane Maria. Power lines were still down and “you could see it was pretty beat up,” said Senior Airman Tyler Gandolfi. He and other 219th airmen set up two Disaster
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