fresno air national guard scandal

Garrison ran the base at the time of the incident. We share in the sorrow felt by Jethro's loved ones and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends as well as those of the Ukrainian aviator.". Magram, who was once director of the Guards air staff, is the fifth general to resign, retire or be fired in the wake of scandals exposed by Times investigations of the organization over the last four years. FRESNO, Calif. (AP) The head of the California Air National Guard, Major General Clay Garrison, was relieved of his command and replaced by Brigadier General Gregory Jones two months after a newspaper detailed the fallout from a scandal involving someone urinating in the boots of a service member. FRESNO, Calif. (AP) The head of the California Air National Guard, Major General Clay Garrison, was relieved of his command and replaced by Brigadier General Gregory Jones two months after a newspaper detailed the fallout from a scandal involving someone urinating in the boots of a service member. "If there was a smoking gun, they took it and threw it right in the river," said Maj. Woodside. Nehring was a fighter pilot with the California Air National Guard's 194th Fighter Squadron, part of the 144th Fighter Wing based at the Fresno Air National Guard Base, located on the southeast corner of Fresno-Yosemite International Airport. The 194th Fighter Squadron (194 FS) is a unit of the California Air National Guard 's 144th Fighter Wing (144 FW) at Fresno Air National Guard Base, California. Members of the 144th's security forces, who police the base, conducted two investigations, according to internal investigative records obtained by the Times. FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Fresno's 144th Fighter Wing is under scrutiny from the U.S. Air Force Inspector General's Office because of a disgusting discovery four years ago. The commander of the 144th Fighter Wing at the Fresno base was also removed. How Palm Springs ran out Black and Latino families to build a fantasy for rich, white people, 17 SoCal hiking trails that are blooming with wildflowers (but probably not for long! Charles Vaughn). A Guard spokesman, Lt. Col. Jonathan Shiroma, on Friday confirmed the shake-up, but he did not have additional details. Garrison's only guidance, Johnston wrote, was that he first confer with the 144th's judge advocate general at the time. The Times reported last year that an internal inquiry substantiated allegations that Brig. The 144th is the biggest wing in the state, home to roughly 115 officers, including about two dozen fighter pilots, and more than 1,000 enlistees in support units. The urine incident and its aftermath fueled suspicions within the Guard that high-ranking officers, including Garrison, mishandled two investigations to find the perpetrator and tried to bury the episode to protect someone who may have been involved, according to interviews and Guard records obtained by the Times. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Pissgate was just one example, Woodside said. 144th FW signs Heritage jet. Latest FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- If you were near Fresno Yosemite International Airport Wednesday morning, there's a good chance you saw and heard plenty of military aircraft activity. The 144th is the biggest wing in the state, home to roughly 115 officers, including about two dozen fighter pilots, and more than 1,000 enlistees in support units. Allegations of retaliation against whistleblowers in the California National Guard are more widespread than the complaints made at a Fresno air base that led to a dramatic leadership shakeup of the organization earlier this month, The Times has found. That inquiry is part of a broader investigation into whether whistleblowers at the 144th suffered reprisals for questioning the actions of their superiors on a range of matters. See Why Customers Flocked to Fresno Cannabis Store on Day 1. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. | A guard spokesman, Lt. Col. Jonathan Shiroma, on Friday confirmed the shake-up, but he did not have additional details. The scandal dates back to March 2015, when Staff Sgt. All Rights Reserved. April 12, 2019 7:05 PM PT A third high-ranking officer in the California Air National Guard has been removed from his position because of complaints he made whistleblowers feel threatened at the. Entertainment Pineda filed a whistleblower complaint, in which she wrote that she feared she would be forced out of the military because some had speculated that she urinated in her own boots for attention. She wanted the DNA test to clear her name. Several Guard members took Sikora's remarks as a criticism of people who had filed complaints with the inspector general. It all happened under his watchful eye, but he was not alone in allowing this to happen.. A guard spokesman, Lt. Col. Jonathan Shiroma, on Friday confirmed the shake-up, but he did not have additional details. Hawkins told The Times that those allegations are largely untrue and specifically denied making the statement about terrorist attacks. Recruiters: But everybody else.. The 144th is the biggest wing in the state, home to roughly 115 officers, including about two dozen fighter pilots, and more than 1,000 enlistees in support units. Investigators only talked to three other people the first time around and came up empty. Some in the wing refer to the scandal as Pissgate., The saga dates to March 2015, when Staff Sgt. At least five Guard members, including a pilot who was killed in October in a crash during a training mission in Ukraine, from the 144th wing filed formal complaints. Local All Rights Reserved. The California Air National Guard is the second largest unit in the Air Guard, a force of more than 100,000 pilots, other officers and enlisted people. The Guard denies it. Consent from a parent or The vast majority of you are good people who are killing it in a high ops tempo year, you're very honorable, red-blooded Americans, Sikora said at the meeting, according to the report. Our traditional members serve one weekend each month and about two weeks each year, with opportunities for full-time employment. Based on this article, and in addition to other evidence collected, it would appear that there is a culture of reprisal, or at a minimum the perception of reprisal, that has a long stemmed history within the 144th, the inspector general report states. The document also cites the cybersecurity episode as grounds for dismissing him, stating that he let a subordinate click through the training questions and obtain a certificate of completion for you., The memo further recounts that a 2021 survey of Guard members found that they experienced significant issues with unit cohesion, good order, and military discipline because of [Magrams] conduct.. Investigators reached no conclusions that time around either. Members of the 144ths security forces, who police the base, conducted two investigations, according to internal investigative records obtained by the Times. Jones began his career as a jet engine mechanic in the Nevada Air National Guard. Captain Nehring is an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot with California Air National Guard's 194th Fighter Squadron in Fresno. ", By It said Sikora used insulting and defamatory language in remarks to subordinates. Magram attained the rank of assistant adjutant general and had been part of Baldwins inner circle. They patrol state airspace and stand ready to respond to natural disasters and large-scale terrorist attacks. To ensure they are prepared for the task at hand, the 144th Fighter Wing, Security Forces Squadron, trains for Agile Combat Employment at Camp Roberts, California, Feb. 2, 2023. Overview. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Northern California town on edge after second fatal stabbing in a week, Sheriffs Department investigates memo alleging captain wouldnt promote angry Black sergeant, CEO of Cookies pot brand accused of kickbacks, strong-arm tactics, Californias top military brass rocked by homophobia, antisemitism, indecent exposure scandals, What you need to know about the scandals at the California National Guard. The head of the California Air National Guard and one of its five wing commanders have been removed from their positions amid complaints of reprisals against whistleblowers and allegations of a cover-up of misconduct that reached into the highest ranks of the organization, officials announced Friday. Alene Tchekmedyian And Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times, Times investigation two months ago that detailed the whistleblower allegations, Who urinated in her boots? He said he believed that having subordinates give him rides to medical appointments was consistent with the Air Forces wingman concept, in which Guard members look out for one another. General requirements include: AGE. This clearly means that anyone exercising their right to speak with the IG or the press is not honorable, not a good person, and implies they are not a red-blooded American, the report quotes Swertfager as saying. Chris Drudge), U.S. airman killed in training exercise in Ukraine confirmed from 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno. Alene Tchekmedyian And Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times, were removed in the wake of a Times investigation, Head Of The California Air National Guard Dismissed After Alleged Cover-up In 'Pissgate' Scandal. The first of three investigations launched right after Staff Sgt. Copyright 2023 KFSN-TV. The inquiry also determined that Magram failed to complete his annual cybersecurity training and thus had lower-ranking Guard members each day request that headquarters temporarily restore his computer access. It's all part of. Former military lawyer Scott Taylor tells us the story now is less about the crime and more about officers accusing their superiors of covering it up. Gen. Tim Rieger, who was tasked by Maj. Gen. David Baldwin, head of the California Military Department, with investigating Sikora's actions. The familiarization flights give NATO service members an opportunity to ride in Soviet or Russian-built aircraft, like the Su-27UB fighter jet. Col. Dave Johnston, a commander who signed off on the evidence destruction, said in statements provided to The Times that he had consulted with Garrison before doing so. Alene Tchekmedyian And Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times California California Air National Guard removes commander over threats against whistleblowers A third high-ranking officer in the California Air National Guard has been removed from. Swertfager could not be reached for comment. Valley Weather Rollercoaster: Mid-90s Now, Upper 60s Next Week, Adventure in Spices? Baldwin denied that the jet had been prepared for such a deployment and said the move against Magram had nothing to do with the report. An F-15C air-to-air combat jet was placed on alert in case of unrest over the pandemic or election, sources and records say. The complaints focused on the organizations Fresno air base and included an incident in which someone urinated in a female Guard members boots. California Governor Jerry Brown and the First Lady also extended their deepest condolences to Nehring's family and friends. The first of three. U.S. Air Force Col. Brig. RELATED: U.S. airman killed in training exercise in Ukraine confirmed from 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno, In a statement, U.S. Air Force Col. Daniel Kelly, commander of the 144th Fighter Wing said, "We are a close-knit family and when a tragedy like this occurs, every member of the 144th Fighter Wing feels it. After queries by The Times, however, the Guard said a second inquiry had substantiated similar allegations against him, and another round of discipline was pending. It just took her a long time to decide what she wanted, a lot of comparison shopping amongst products.. At least five guard members from the 144th wing filed formal complaints. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. / CBS Sacramento. Rob Swertfager, also filed a complaint alleging that commanders punished him including by withholding his pay on occasion for going to bat for Pineda. Lt. Col. Seth "Jethro" Nehring, 44, was killed while taking part in a familiarization flight in a Russian-built Su-27UB fighter jet with a Ukrainian counterpart. DSN 839-5246, Crash Survivors Meet Indiana Airmen Who Rescued Them, Joint, International Southern Strike 2023 Exercise Wraps Up, Alaska Guardsman Helps Keep Pave Hawks Flying, New AF surgeon general program enhances support for EFMP families, Airmen, Guardians, Air Force modernizes nuclear security with advanced JLTV vehicle, Effective June 1, First Term Airmen can retrain into AFSCs under 90% manning in lieu of separation, An official website of the United States government. The guards function as state militias whose leaders report to their respective governors. This went on for about two weeks, until he had the training completed by a subordinate. Members of the 144th's security forces, who police the base, conducted two investigations into the Pineda incident, according to internal investigative records obtained by The Times. The vast majority means all of you, except for a couple of you, and they know who they are so we don't need to call them out. At least five Guard members from the 144th Fighter Wing filed formal complaints. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Forensic analysts say urine can be tested for DNA, but it degrades faster than other tissue and bodily fluids. 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Since early 2019, The Times has investigated a wide range of alleged misconduct by high-ranking officials of the California National Guard. Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison, California Air National Guard commander, addresses service members from participating countries during the opening ceremony for Clear Sky 2018 exercise at Starokostiantyniv Air Base, Ukraine, Oct. 8, 2018. Members of the 144th Medical Detachment 1 recently completed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region IX California Homeland Response Force (HRF) external evaluation March 30, 2023, at Camp Roberts, California. Baldwin later removed the commander of the Guard's air side, Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison. Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. Our traditional members serve one weekend each month and about two weeks each year, with opportunities for full-time employment. Must be between the age of 17 and 40. The Guard memo obtained by The Times says Magram on several occasions wrongfully encouraged or requested subordinates to perform tasks or run errands for him outside their military duties, such as giving him rides to personal appointments. Members of the Guard described a "climate of retaliationand mistrust. Director of Psychological Health: Latest The Fresno Air National Guard base hosted a ribbon cutting for its new fuel storage facilities, featuring tanks with increased capacities. At least five guard members from the 144th wing filed formal complaints. Sikora was suspended as the wing's Operations Group leader in December. (559) 454-5286 A third high-ranking officer in the California Air National Guard has been removed from his position because of complaints he made whistleblowers feel threatened at the 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno. California Air National Guard removes commander over threats against whistleblowers in 'pissgate' scandal A third high-ranking officer in the California Air National Guard has been. In interviews with the Times, several current and former members of the Guard described a culture of retaliation by high-ranking officers and mistrust in the inspector general system intended to hold them accountable. Public Affairs Office: The 144th is renowned for its F-15 pilots working to protect California and the country. She wanted the DNA test to clear her name. The report was prepared by Brig. Sikora's briefing came after The Times began asking questions about alleged retaliation against whistleblowers and the incident in which Staff Sgt. An F-117 Nighthawks at the Fresno Air National Guard Base in California, September 15, 2021 . The guards function as state militias whose leaders report to their respective governors. The speech was clearly directed at me and a few other people that have pursued justice through the IG.. The California Air National Guard says its top commander, Major General Clay Garrison, has been relieved of command and will be replaced by Brigadier General Gregory Jones. Among the other disclosures by The Times were the Guards use of a spy plane to monitor civilian protesters and fears in the ranks that it planned to deploy a fighter jet to frighten demonstrators. The scandal dates back to March 2015, when Staff Sgt. Gen. Gregory F. Jones, who has served as an assistant adjutant general in the Guard since December 2017, was appointed to replace Garrison. She said in her complaint she feared she'd be forced out of the military because some had speculated that she urinated in her own boots for attention.. (559) 453-5461 The 144th is the biggest wing in the state, home to roughly 115 officers, including about two dozen fighter pilots, and more than 1,000 enlistees in support units. Gen. Jones will be able to lead the organization effectively and with the utmost integrity.. Captain Nehring is an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot with California Air National Guard's 194th Fighter Squadron in Fresno. Paul Pringle is a Los Angeles Times reporter who specializes in investigating corruption. FRESNO, Calif. The head of the California Air National Guard, Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison, was relieved of command and replaced by Brig. 4/23 update:The LA Times has dug into the California Air National Guard scandal. Baldwin later removed the commander of the Guards air side, Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison. Jones was unavailable for comment, Keegan said. (559) 454-5274 Airman & Family Readiness Office: FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- An airman from Fresno, killed in a crash of a fighter jet in Ukraine, has been identified as Lt. Col. Seth "Jethro" Nehring.