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. Swertfager could not be reached for comment. 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. The U.S. and Ukrainian governments are investigating to determine the cause of the accident. Since early 2019, The Times has investigated a wide range of alleged misconduct by high-ranking officials of the California National Guard. 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 guard spokesman, Lt. Col. Jonathan Shiroma, on Friday confirmed the shake-up, but he did not have additional details. Inside the scandals at the California National Guard - Los Angeles Times The scandal dates back to March 2015, when Staff Sgt. 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. Baldwin said the fact that he resided in El Dorado Hills, where the protests were small and peaceful, had no bearing on the deployment of the RC-26B reconnaissance plane. A guard spokesman on Friday, April 5, 2019, confirmed the shakeup, but did not have additional details. Navin denied any involvement, according to Guard records. This website is managed by the Public Affairs Office. Rob Swertfager, also filed a complaint alleging that commanders punished him including by withholding his pay on occasion for going to bat for Pineda. Scandals taint highest ranks of National Guard - PressReader Sikora did not respond to requests for comment Friday. Keegan said Garrison will retire in the coming weeks. By Staff Sgt. 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 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. Except When Its Not. This went on for about two weeks, until he had the training completed by a subordinate. To find out about jobs in the Air National Guard check out: Public Scoping Process: July 19 - Sept. 2, 2022, COVID-19 What is the U.S. Government doing, FRESNO RELATIVE RISK SITE EVALUATION FACT SHEET & SCORING SUMMARIES, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. Unprofessional leadership cited in Air National Guard whistleblower 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. General requirements include: AGE. 2019 the Los Angeles Times. Alene Tchekmedyian And Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times At least five guard members from the 144th wing filed formal complaints. 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. Legendary Valley Thoroughbred Elected to Racing Hall of Fame, Collision Ends Smyly Perfect Game Bid, Cubs Top Dodgers 13-0, Oakland As Set Vegas Move in Motion With Stadium Land Deal, Draymond Greens Suspension Is the Talk of the NBA Playoffs, California 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. Both were inconclusive, and the case was closed. The Guard denies it. They patrol state airspace and stand ready to respond to natural disasters and large-scale terrorist attacks. 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. Sports. Latest Jones has served as assistant adjutant general since December 2017. 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. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing this? 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. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. A general is fired from the scandal-plagued California National Guard Brig. Gen. Tim Rieger, who was tasked by Maj. Gen. David Baldwin, head of the California Military Department, with investigating Sikora's actions. As part of the Air Reserve Component of the United States Air Force, the wing is operationally gained by the Air Combat Command . 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.. 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 Times reported last year that an internal inquiry substantiated allegations that Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Magram will be involuntarily transferred next week to the U.S. Air Force retired reserve, an action that is parallel to a firing, California National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Brandon Hill said Friday. 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. Magram attained the rank of assistant adjutant general and had been part of Baldwins inner circle. ", By 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. 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. In a report released after the ousters of Garrison and Kelly, the Military Department inspector general cited findings of the Times investigation two months ago. 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 The guards function as state militias whose leaders report to their respective governors. Brig. 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. At least one person recorded the briefing, where Sikora said anyone filing complaints was causing problems for the wing, according to the report. Captain Nehring is an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot with California Air National Guard's 194th Fighter Squadron in Fresno. Hawkins told The Times that those allegations are largely untrue and specifically denied making the statement about terrorist attacks. 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. An F-117 Nighthawks at the Fresno Air National Guard Base in California, September 15, 2021 . Three days later, the report said, he called a mandatory meeting of his subordinates to discuss his suspension. She wanted the DNA test to clear her name. All Rights Reserved. Baldwin later removed the commander of the Guard's air side, Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison. 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. It's all part of. Published Apr 15, 2019 10:00 AM EDT. Captain Nehring is an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot with California Air National Guard's 194th Fighter Squadron in Fresno. 144th Fighter Wing Welcomes F-117 Nighthawks for Training Weather, Education The head of the California Air National Guard, Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison, was relieved of his command and replaced by Brig. Lt. Col. Nehring and a Ukrainian service member were killed when the Ukrainian Su-27UB aircraft they were in crashed during a familiarization flight. Fresno Scandal Forces Out Air National Guard Commander 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. Keegan said Friday he did not know the status of the probe. Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. Valley Weather Rollercoaster: Mid-90s Now, Upper 60s Next Week, Adventure in Spices? Jones has served as assistant adjutant general since December 2017. 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! Copyright 2023 KFSN-TV. 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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. The complaints focused on the Guard's Fresno air base and included an incident in which someone urinated in a female Guard member's boots. (559) 454-5274 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. 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. Attempts to reach Magram for comment were unsuccessful. Members of the 144ths security forces conducted two investigations, according to internal investigative records obtained by the Times. News, Latest 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. California Air National Guard removes commander over threats against The evidence included Pineda's boots and a vial of urine collected from the bathroom floor that was never tested for DNA. 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. It all happened under his watchful eye, but he was not alone in allowing this to happen.. It said Sikora used insulting and defamatory language in remarks to subordinates. Both were inconclusive, and the case was closed. To find out about jobs in the Air National Guard check out: https://www.goang.com/ Public Affairs This website is managed by the Public Affairs Office. Consent from a parent or It just took her a long time to decide what she wanted, a lot of comparison shopping amongst products.. 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. Members of the 144ths security forces, who police the base, conducted two investigations, according to internal investigative records obtained by the Times. The document quoted one unnamed Guard member as saying he did not want to drive Magram because my job is to take care of the airmen in the state of California and not be a chauffeur for a general.. 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.

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