Classic associate unit activated at Kirtland AFB

  • Published
  • By André Kok
  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  The Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Norton Schwartz recently approved the creation of a classic associate unit by aligning elements of the 150th Wing and 58th Special Operations Wing at Kirtland AFB, N.M.

The 58th SOW, which is a regular Air Force unit, will serve as the host, and will have primary responsibility for the aircraft and its active duty members. As the associate unit, the 150th Wing from the New Mexico Air National Guard, will have primary responsibility for the guardsmen assigned and share the aircraft assigned to the unit.

The primary mission for the new associate unit includes flying training for HC-130P King, MC-130P Combat Shadow, HH-60 Pave Hawk, and UH-1 Iroquois aircraft. Guardsmen from the 150th Wing have already begun training for this mission.

Additionally, guardsmen from the 150th Wing will add secondary missions of rapid, deployable engineering, power production and intelligence targeting.

This new association maintains a cadre of qualified flight instructors with long-term continuity and preserves New Mexico Air National Guard manpower to support state emergencies.