The 192nd Wing recently hosted a two-day conference for Air National Guard (ANG) classic association units on June 25, 2024. The event, led by Col. Brock E. Lange, brought together leaders from across the country to discuss challenges, best practices, and the future of these partnerships.
Attendees included commanders and senior leadership from the 141st Air Refueling Wing of the Washington ANG, the 131st Bomb Wing of the Missouri ANG, the 170th Group of the Nebraska ANG, the 108th Wing of the New Jersey ANG, and the 192nd Wing of the Virginia ANG.
There are nearly twenty classic associations in the ANG, including four wings. This organizational structure combines active duty and National Guard personnel to enhance operational efficiency and reduce costs while maintaining their distinct strengths.
Lange provided attendees with a tour of the 192nd Wing’s classic association with the 1st Fighter Wing at Joint Base Langley-Eustis. “Fifty percent of our wing is classic association,” noted Lange. “We started as an embedded association, but it’s evolved far beyond just cost savings. It’s about ‘experience gaining’ and leveraging the Guard’s deep well of expertise.”
In a classic association, an active duty Air Force unit retains principal responsibility for weapon systems and shares equipment with an ANG unit. Both components maintain separate chains of command but share resources and collaborate on missions.
Col. Andrew M. Weidner briefed attendees on how unit Guard members embed daily with 1st FW operations missions. “The experience and continuity of Guard members meshes seamlessly with our Regular Air Force partners’ needs,” said Weidner. “It increases overall combat capability.”
“The magic of our classic association is maintenance,” emphasized Lange while introducing Col. Timothy M. Strouse. “Airmen rotate every month with their 1st Fighter Wing counterparts… And I would ensure that active duty always has Air National Guard support.”
The conference covered topics such as funding, organizing, and equipping classic association units. Attendees engaged in discussions about unique challenges faced by these units and explored innovative ways to share best practices.
Representatives from the National Guard Bureau and Air Combat Command were also present at this strategic event.
Maj. Gen. Bryan E. Salmon led an extensive roundtable discussion praising these relationships while offering critical advice for future challenges.
As the conference concluded, attendees left with renewed enthusiasm for the classic association model and its potential for future operations within the Air Force.
“Classic associations bring in more ‘family’ to have more successful partnerships,” said Salmon. “They truly embody the intent of the Total Force concept.”
