Special Skills Of Air Guard Called By Governor
Story by Maj Kathy Salatas, Photo Courtesy A1C Stephanie Towler - Posted Dec, 1999
On the first day of December, 1999 over a hundred members from the Washington Air National Guard (WA-ANG) were mobilized in support of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Conference in Seattle. Air National Guardsmen responded rapidly to the call-up that ultimately put an unexpected spin on the holidays of 112 men and women from throughout the state. Governor Locke had called upon the specialized skills of personnel from 10 of the units of the Washington Air National Guard.
 |
Units involved were the Headquarters Washington Air National Guard (HQ WA ANG), the Western Air Defense Sector (WADS), Detachment 1 Headquarters Washington Air National Guard (Det 1 HQ WA ANG), 116 Air Support Operations Squadron (ASOS), 111 Air Support Operations Center (ASOC), 241 Civil Engineering Squadron (CES), 143 Combat Communications Squadron (CBCS), 215 Engineering Installation Squadron (EIS), 173 Medical Flight (MDF) and the 252 Combat Communications Group (CCG).
While their counterparts in the Washington Army National Guard were seen frequently on the news, most of the Airmen worked behind the scenes. Many served as uniformed escorts for distinguished visitors and foreign dignitaries. They also augmented local law enforcement personnel by providing security for buildings utilized by WTO dignitaries in downtown Seattle. These included Cavanaugh's Hotel, the Olympic Four Seasons, the Westin Hotel, the Madison Hotel and the Washington State Convention Center itself. Despite the threatening mission environment enthusiasm and morale were very high.
Interestingly, many Guardsmen are, in their civilian role, policemen, paramedics and firemen, doctors, nurses and others that were already involved in the civil disturbances that plagued the World Trade Organization’s meeting. One such Guardsman was Lt Col Yafeu Nantwi, the Executive Support Staff Officer for the WA-ANG. During the call-up Lt Col Nantwi was released from his National Guard duties to return to his civilian job as a frontline Seattle Police Officer.
 |
 |
|
|