fresno air national guard scandal

He also recommended close monitoring of any unfavorable personnel actions against complainants or witnesses in the 144th as possible reprisal. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. 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. The guards function as state militias whose leaders report to their respective governors. FRESNO AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Calif --. Zakaria: These Revolutions May Help India Really Take off at Last, Future of California at Risk if CEQA Environmental Law Remains Unchanged, California Tax on Booze Would Double if These Activists Get Their Way. Latest, Latest The urine incident and its aftermath fueled suspicions 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. 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. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. 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. 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. In interviews with The Times, several current and former members of the Guard have described a climate of retaliation by high-ranking officers and mistrust in the organization's inspector general system intended to hold them accountable. 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. The California air guard is the second largest in the Air National Guard, a force of more than 100,000 pilots, other officers and enlisted people. However, Magram had been counseled in 2017 that tasking Guard members for rides to personal appointments was inappropriate, the report stated, adding that his wingman argument rings hollow. The investigation similarly faulted him for using an underling to work on his travel awards accounts, including for personal trips. Two of those were related to the urine incident, including one filed by Pineda. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. It is the first official organic story about the F-117's operations since the aircraft was retired in 2008: The 144th Fighter Wing welcomed the arrival of two F-117 Nighthawk aircraft Sept 13, 2021. General requirements include: AGE. Woodside says it should've been handled differently from the start, especially since people in command positions might've been involved. The scandal dates back to March 2015, when Staff Sgt. Entertainment The commander of the 144th Fighter Wing at the Fresno base was also removed. Pineda declined to comment. Attempts to reach Magram for comment were unsuccessful. Paul Pringle is a Los Angeles Times reporter who specializes in investigating corruption. 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. 144th FW signs Heritage jet. Lt. Col. Nehring and a Ukrainian service member were killed when the Ukrainian Su-27UB aircraft they were in crashed during a familiarization flight. 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. The familiarization flights give NATO service members an opportunity to ride in Soviet or Russian-built aircraft, like the Su-27UB fighter jet. The Air Force says that Nehring has been a member of the 144th for more than 20 years. When I say particular, it had to be at Whole Foods. 144th Fighter Wing taking to the skies for night-flight . Investigators reached no conclusions that time around either. 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. Jennifer Pineda, a 15-year veteran of the guard, was about to change into her uniform in a womens bathroom at the 144th Fighter Wing when she discovered her boots had been soiled. Nehring began his career as an enlisted crew chief before being selected as a pilot. Public Affairs Office: Magram said in his statement that he was late in completing the training because of a tremendously busy operational tempo.. Gavin Newsom referred questions about Friday's shakeup back to the Guard. 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. U.S. Air Force Col. 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. 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. 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. An F-117 Nighthawks at the Fresno Air National Guard Base in California, September 15, 2021 . Hawkins told The Times that those allegations are largely untrue and specifically denied making the statement about terrorist attacks. Magram became the focus of more upheaval last summer, when The Times disclosed that an internal probe found that he had on-duty Guard members drive him up to 120 miles round-trip to personal dental and medical appointments at Travis Air Force Base, according to a confidential report on the inquiry. Garrison did not act alone in this. FRESNO, Calif. - The roar of two fighter jets flying over Fresno marked the beginning of a new era June 18. Hawkins received a letter of reprimand as a result, the Guard said. Brig. Maj. Dan Woodside, a retired 144th fighter pilot who is a witness in an inspector general's Pineda investigation and has complained about how she was treated, said Guard members were afraid to approach Garrison with any reports of wrongdoing, fearing they would be punished. A 144th pilot, Lt. Col. In yet another ouster of a top commander for the troubled California National Guard, a brigadier general has been fired after internal inquiries found that he inappropriately used military personnel for personal tasks, had a subordinate complete part of his cybersecurity training and otherwise engaged in conduct that seeded distrust in the ranks. In a statement Friday, Keegan said, The Guard is committed to providing a transparent, respectful and positive command climate. I am confident that Brig. It said Sikora used insulting and defamatory language in remarks to subordinates. Garrison was the top commander of the air guard, and Kelly headed the 144th wing. A spokesman for Gov. The command change follows a Los Angeles Times report on allegations that whistleblowers at the guards Fresno base suffered reprisals for questioning actions or conduct, including an incident in which a female guard member discovered urine in her boots. The scandal dates back to March 2015, when Staff Sgt. Local Education A 144th pilot, Lt. Col. Local (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. 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 fighter squadron at the time, Col. Sean Navin, was one of the drinkers. Sikora was suspended as the wing's Operations Group leader in December. The exercise is a joint and multinational exercise that will involve approximately 950 personnel from nine nations. Will Political Reality Shape a Mighty Morro Bay Wind? Garrison and Kelly did not respond to interview requests. However, in 2021, Baldwin suspended him with pay and reassigned him after a Times report that Guard members were concerned that their leaders had readied an F-15C fighter jet for a possible mission in which the aircraft would fly low over civilian protesters to frighten and disperse them. 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. It's all part of. The first of three investigations launched right after Staff Sgt. A general forced out as head of the California Air National Guard two weeks ago says the state Guard commander has lost touch with reality.. But at least five of its Air National Guard members have filed internal complaints about a nasty incident and other concerns. The scandal dates back to March 2015, when Staff Sgt. The Air National Guard is a reserve component of the United State Air Force. Gen. Gregory Jones two months after a newspaper detailed the fallout from a scandal involving someone urinating in the boots of a service member. Rieger recommended in his report that Sikora receive a memorandum of reprimand and be relieved of command due to the loss of faith in him as a 144th leader. 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. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? News, Appetite for Fresno In an email to The Times, Hill said an internal disciplinary board substantiated the allegations against Magram, and the general was removed for cause. The boards action came after two separate inquiries into Magrams conduct by military inspectors general; directives to dismiss him were issued by Gov. 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. "This is not a problem with the rank and file, the rank and file pilots or the great people that do their job out there every day," he said. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Ron DeSantis replaced the Florida National Guard's adjutant general two years ago amid revelations of sexual abuse, coverups and reprisal. Gen. Gregory F. Jones, who has served as an assistant adjutant general in the Guard since December 2017, was appointed to replace Garrison. The evidence included Pineda's boots and a vial of urine collected from the bathroom floor that was never tested for DNA. Brig. 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. (559) 454-5286 It all happened under his watchful eye, but he was not alone in allowing this to happen.. Many of the pilots are part-time reservists, signing up after careers in the U.S. Air Force, and some fly in their civilian lives for commercial airlines. The California air guard is the second largest in the Air National Guard, a force of more than 100,000 pilots, other officers and enlisted people. Magram, who was once director of the Guard's 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. Opinion, California 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. The 194th is equipped with the F-15 Eagle and like its parent wing, the 144th Griffins, is operationally-gained within the active U.S. Air Force by the Air Combat Command (ACC). 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. What Dyer Had to Say. The 20,000-member Guard serves a dual stateand-federal mission that includes responding to emergencies in California, such as earthquakes, wildfires and civil disturbances, and assisting U.S. armed forces in military operations overseas. Lt. Col. Seth "Jethro" Nehring stands in front of a Ukrainian Su-27UB aircraft parked at the Starokostiantyniv air base in the Khmelnytskyi region of western Ukraine. Members of the 144th's security forces, who police the base, conducted two investigations, according to internal investigative records obtained by the Times. The command change follows a Los Angeles Times report on allegations that whistleblowers at the Guards Fresno base suffered reprisals for questioning actions or conduct, including an incident in which a female guardsman discovered urine in her boots. 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.". 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. Alene Tchekmedyian And Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times Rob Swertfager, also filed a complaint alleging that commanders punished him including by withholding his pay on occasion for going to bat for Pineda. Gen. Gregory Jones two months after a newspaper detailed the fallout from a scandal involving someone urinating in the boots of a service member. 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. 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. Federal investigators on Thursday arrested a 21-year-old air national guardsman who they believe is linked to a trove of leaked classified U.S . First published on April 5, 2019 / 7:29 PM. | California Governor Jerry Brown and the First Lady also extended their deepest condolences to Nehring's family and friends. But fellow officers are questioning the investigations, complaining about retaliation for their contributions and a potential cover-up. A Guard member who took Magrams mother shopping was quoted in the report as saying that she was particular. FRESNO, Calif. The head of the California Air National Guard, Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison, was relieved of command and replaced by Brig. The first of three. The speech was clearly directed at me and a few other people that have pursued justice through the IG.. Recruiters: One of the jets was a single-engine F-16C Fighting . Phone: (559) 454-5246 Captain Nehring is an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot with California Air National Guard's 194th Fighter Squadron in Fresno. Investigators only talked to three other people the first time around and came up empty. An internal inquiry also determined that Sikora improperly excoriated a retired pilot for speaking to The Times, the report said. (559) 453-5461 Overview. Beevers and Newsom did not respond to requests for comment made through spokespersons. 144th Fighter Wing Public Affairs. Gen. David Hawkins made antisemitic and homophobic slurs, including that Jews are unrepentant sinners and that gay marriage is a reason terrorists attack the United States. The complaints disclosed by The Times focused on the leadership of the Fresno base and included an alleged cover-up of an incident in which someone urinated in a female Guard member's boots. 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. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing this? FRESNO, Calif. The head of the California Air National Guard, Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison, was relieved of command and replaced by Brig. Alene Tchekmedyian And Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times As part of the Air Reserve Component of the United States Air Force, the wing is operationally gained by the Air Combat Command . 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. Police investigating early morning homicide in Porterville, Child among 5 killed by drunk gunman still on loose: TX police, 1 missing, 2 rescued after getting swept away in Kaweah River. The scandal dates back to March 2015, when Staff Sgt. 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. A Guard spokesman, Lt. Col. Jonathan Shiroma, on Friday confirmed the shake-up, but he did not have additional details. You must meet certain enlistment criteria to qualify for the Air National Guard. Pineda filed a whistleblower complaint, in which she wrote that she feared she'd be forced out of the military because some had speculated that she urinated in her own boots for attention.. Members of the 144ths security forces conducted two investigations, according to internal investigative records obtained by the Times. Fresno Guard pilots who step into an F-16 cockpit might risk their lives or carry in their hands the survival of others and the. Garrison ran the base at the time of the incident. Off the Bottom Rope Navin denied any involvement, according to Guard records. Pissgate was just one example, Woodside said. (559) 454-5383 A guard spokesman, Lt. Col. Jonathan Shiroma, on Friday confirmed the shake-up, but he did not have additional details. News, Latest But everybody else.. Many of the pilots are part-time reservists, signing up after careers in the U.S. Air Force, and some fly in their civilian lives for commercial airlines. 2019 the Los Angeles Times. 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. Some in the wing refer to the scandal as Pissgate., The saga dates to March 2015, when Staff Sgt. Our traditional members serve one weekend each month and about two weeks each year, with opportunities for full-time employment. Woodside says the IG system isn't working right now, though, because investigators aren't acting independently of wing commanders. Garrison was removed because the California Military Department, which oversees the air and army branches of the Guard, had lost faith, trust and confidence in his ability to lead, a spokesman said. Alene Tchekmedyian And Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times, Times investigation two months ago that detailed the whistleblower allegations, Who urinated in her boots? In a second investigation months later, they finally talked to people who were in the building that night, having drinks after finishing a day of work. They patrol state airspace and stand ready to respond to natural disasters and large-scale terrorist attacks. 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 California air guard is the second largest in the Air National Guard, a force of more than 100,000 pilots, other officers and enlisted people. 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. 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. Weather, Education 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. 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 guards function as state militias whose leaders report to their respective governors. A member of the Judge Advocate General Corps, Maj . He Toppled Vince McMahon. Many of the pilots are part-time reservists, signing up after careers in the U.S. Air Force, and some fly in their civilian lives for commercial airlines. Administrators at the Fighter Wing didn't respond to our request for comment, but after the L.A. Times started asking about the Pineda episode, the California Military Department asked the U.S. Air Force Inspector General's Office to conduct a third investigation. News Sikora did not respond to requests for comment Friday. Valley Weather Rollercoaster: Mid-90s Now, Upper 60s Next Week, Adventure in Spices? A recent spate of alleged misconduct by high-ranking officers underscores the need for reform in Californias National Guard, current and former Guard members say. Jennifer Pineda, a 15-year veteran of the guard, was about to change into her uniform in a womens bathroom at the 144th when she discovered her boots had been soiled. The commander of the 144th Fighter Wing at the Fresno base was also removed. 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. Most of the allegations against Magram were first disclosed in a Times report in June. Sports. FRESNO AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, CA -- The 144th Fighter Wing welcomed the arrival of two F-117 Nighthawk aircraft Sept 13, 2021 to the Fresno Air National Guard Base, California, to conduct dissimilar air combat training missions. He flew the F-16 Viper for more than 15 years, before converting to the F-15 Eagle. The Guard denies it. Police investigating early morning homicide in Porterville, Child among 5 killed by drunk gunman still on loose: TX police, 1 missing, 2 rescued after getting swept away in Kaweah River. California National Guard members watch over an access point to the Capitol in Sacramento. The jets made a pass over a crowd of National Guard members and civilians who had assembled in front of the 144th Fighter Wing's maintenance hangar on the Fresno Air National Guard Base. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, urinated in a female Guard members boots, use of a spy plane to monitor civilian protesters, deploy a fighter jet to frighten demonstrators, The commander of the scandal-plagued California National Guard steps down, Californias top military brass rocked by homophobia, antisemitism, indecent exposure scandals, Turmoil shakes California National Guard with firing, suspension of top generals, California Guard members feared fighter jet would be ordered to frighten protesters, Spy plane was sent to monitor protest in affluent suburb, home to head of California National Guard, In California National Guard, whistleblower claims of retaliation go beyond Fresno, Head of California Air National Guard removed amid allegations of cover-up and retaliation, California Air National Guard removes commander over threats against whistleblowers, Must Reads: Someone urinated in a female sergeants boots.

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