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. 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. 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. 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U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael Loh paid a visit to the California Air National Guards 144th Fighter Wing where he engaged with Airmen during their drill Feb. 4, 2023, at the Fresno Air National Guard Base. 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. Must be between the age of 17 and 40. Nehring began his career as an enlisted crew chief before being selected as a pilot. 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. 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. "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. Both were inconclusive, and the case was closed. Public Affairs Office: Investigators only talked to three other people the first time around and came up empty. Ron DeSantis replaced the Florida National Guard's adjutant general two years ago amid revelations of sexual abuse, coverups and reprisal. The guards function as state militias whose leaders report to their respective governors. Woodside says the IG system isn't working right now, though, because investigators aren't acting independently of wing commanders. The commander of the fighter squadron at the time, Col. Sean Navin, was one of the drinkers. 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. 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. F-15 Eagle, 'right aircraft for the mission - The National Guard California Air National Guard removes commander over threats against Lt. Col. Nehring and a Ukrainian service member were killed when the Ukrainian Su-27UB aircraft they were in crashed during a familiarization flight. 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. 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. It just took her a long time to decide what she wanted, a lot of comparison shopping amongst products.. FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - The skies above Super Bowl LVI were safe Sunday thanks to tactical fighter aircraft based in Fresno. Members of the Guard described a "climate of retaliationand mistrust. 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. Commander out at California Air National Guard after scandal Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. 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, By 2019 the Los Angeles Times. Both were inconclusive, and the case was closed. The head of the California Air National Guard, Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison, was relieved of his command and replaced by Brig. The two-seat Su-27UB went down on Tuesday in western Ukraine. Gen. Tim Rieger, who was tasked by Maj. Gen. David Baldwin, head of the California Military Department, with investigating Sikora's actions. A guard spokesman, Lt. Col. Jonathan Shiroma, on Friday confirmed the shake-up, but he did not have additional details. Rob Swertfager, also filed a complaint alleging that commanders punished him including by withholding his pay on occasion for speaking up for Pineda. In a memorandum to Magram that The Times obtained this week, Beevers wrote, Your conduct has caused me to lose faith, trust, and confidence in your ability to continue serving.. It's all part of. By Staff Sgt. Copyright 2023 KFSN-TV. 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. Pissgate was just one example, Woodside said. 2019 the Los Angeles Times. 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." News Rob Swertfager, also filed a complaint alleging that commanders punished him including by withholding his pay on occasion for going to bat for Pineda. Several Guard members took Sikora's remarks as a criticism of people who had filed complaints with the inspector general. 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. California National Guard members watch over an access point to the Capitol in Sacramento. 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. Sgt. The familiarization flight was part of a joint military training exercise called Clear Sky 2018, which kicked off last week. Swertfager could not be reached for comment. (559) 454-5274 The California air guard is the second largest, after New York's, in the Air National Guard, which is a force of more than 100,000 pilots, other officers and enlisted people. Unprofessional leadership cited in Air National Guard whistleblower Gavin Newsom referred questions about Friday's shakeup back to the Guard. Weather, Education Jennifer Pineda, a 15-year veteran of the guard, was about to change into her uniform in a women's bathroom at the 144th Fighter Wing when she discovered her boots had been soiled. Three days later, the report said, he called a mandatory meeting of his subordinates to discuss his suspension. Now the California Air National Guard faces coverup allegations. In a statement Friday, Keegan said, The Guard is committed to providing a transparent, respectful and positive command climate. I am confident that Brig. A Guard member who took Magrams mother shopping was quoted in the report as saying that she was particular. Opinion, California The California National Guard has been buffeted by allegations of misconduct in its upper ranks, coverups and retaliation against whistleblowers. A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle fighter jet assigned to the California Air National Guard's 144th Fighter Wing has made some passes and garnered attention on the internet recently, after . A 144th pilot, Lt. Col. Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. Most of the allegations against Magram were first disclosed in a Times report in June. Hawkins told The Times that those allegations are largely untrue and specifically denied making the statement about terrorist attacks. Latest, Latest A guard spokesman, Lt. Col. Jonathan Shiroma, on Friday confirmed the shake-up, but he did not have additional details. 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. They patrol state airspace and stand ready to respond to natural disasters and large-scale terrorist attacks. At least five guard members from the 144th wing filed formal complaints. 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 preferred location for the new F-35A squadron is Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass., while the F-15EXs are slated for Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, La., and Fresno Air National Guard Base, Calif. All three bases currently operate older F-15C/D model fighters which the Air Force wants to retire in the coming years. NORTH DIGHTON, Mass. The commander of the 144th Fighter Wing at the Fresno base was also removed. 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. The commander of the 144th Fighter Wing at the Fresno base was also removed. When it comes to protecting U.S. Air Force's military assets, the responsibility falls on the Security Forces Defenders. The report was prepared by Brig. The Guard reconnaissance aircraft flew over peaceful protests in the upscale community of El Dorado Hills, the location of Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwins home. The 144th is renowned for its F-15 pilots working to protect California and the country. 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.
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fresno air national guard scandal 2023