195th Wing celebrates it’s top enlisted and commissioned members

 

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — With more than 500 members serving in the 195th Wing California Air National Guard, leadership takes notice when airmen excel above and beyond. Nearly 200 service members, commanders, family recognized, such six members at the Outstanding Airman of the Year awards.

 

The six winners represent the Wing’s top enlisted and commissioned members and were selected from a pool of 36 nominees based on their superior leadership, job performance, and personal achievements. At the 2018 Outstanding Airman of the Year banquet Col Douglas Hire, 195th Wing Commander, welcomed all the nominees and their families.

 

“Although I am extremely proud of this wings contributions and incredibly humbled at the collective efforts of the entire wing, tonight we will honor those that have gone above and beyond,” wrote Col Hire.

 

This year’s Wing winners are nominees for the California State Outstanding Airmen of the Year awards. Congratulations to the winners and nominees.

 

Outstanding Airman of the Year

Senior Airman Devan E Watson

147 Combat Communications Squadron

 

Outstanding Non-commissioned Officer of the Year

Tech Sergeant Ashley Davis

234 Intelligence Squadron

 

Outstanding Senior Non-commissioned Officer of the Year

Master Sergeant Jason Tyler

234 Intelligence Squadron

 

Outstanding First Sergeant of the Year

Master Sergeant Joshua Baker

222 Intelligence Support Squadron

 

Outstanding Company Grade Officer of the Year

Captain Rebekkah Campbell

234 Intelligence Squadron

 

Outstanding Field Grade Officer of the Year

Lt Colonel Randolph Tingle

216 Space Control Squadron

 

The 195th Wing (195 WG) is the first non-kinetic flying Wing in California and the Air National Guard, geographically spread over 600 miles throughout California.   

It is a first of its kind wing comprised of the Headquarters, 195th Wing and seven Geographically Separated Units throughout California.  Two of these units are co-located at Beale AFB:  222d Intelligence Support Squadron and the 234th Intelligence Squadron.  the 149th Intelligence Squadron is based out of Mather Field in Mather, CA.  The 148th Space Operations Squadron and the 216th Space Control Squadron are co-located at Vandenberg AFB, while the 147th Combat Communications Squadron is located in San Diego, CA and the 261 Cyber Operations Squadron is located in Van Nuys, CA. 

With the standing down of the headquarters for the 162d Combat Communications Group, the 222d Operations Support Squadron and the 222d Communications Maintenance Flight, the 195th Wing has activated two new groups for the 195 WG:  195th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group (195 ISRG) and the 195th Operations Group (195 OG).  The 195 ISRG will be headquartered out of Beale AFB and the 195 OG will be headquartered out of the Van Nuys Air National Guard Station in Southern California.

What do you know about TAPS?  Below is a history of this well known tribute. (Reference: USAF Honor Guard Training Guide, 2013)

Originally, the American Army used the French L'Extinction Des Feux (Lights Out) for Taps. It was said to be Napoleon's favorite but it did not suit General Daniel Butterfield. Not knowing a note of music, General Butterfield decided to put something together more suited for signaling the end of the day's activity. With the help of the brigade bugler, Oliver W. Norton, General Butterfield created Taps one night in July 1862. Taps was made official throughout the Army in 1932.

Taps was used in connection with military funerals during the same campaign. A soldier was buried at a time when Capt. Tidball's battery occupied an advanced position concealed in the woods. It was unsafe to fire the customary three volleys over the grave. So, Capt. Tidball thought that Taps would be the most appropriate ceremony that could be substituted. The custom went up through the chain-of-command of the Army and was finally confirmed by orders.

Taps over the grave today marks the beginning of the long last sleep and expresses hope and confidence in an ultimate reveille to come.

Words for Taps:

Fades the light,
and afar
Goeth day
Cometh night;
and a star
Leadeth all,
Speedeth all
To their rest.
Day is done,
Gone the sun,
From the hills,
From the lake,
From the sky,
All is well,
Safely rest,
God is nigh