Don't forget about the events next drill weekend!

Airmen from the 130th Airlift Wing participated in FLARE from April 6-11 at the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Miss. 378 Airmen from every squadron in the unit took part in this mock deployment to the CRTC. 130th Airlift Wing members were inspected by Wing Inspection Teams (WIT) composed of Airmen from many different areas of the West Virginia Air National Guard. From day one when the Airmen touched down they began setting up as the “130th Air Expeditionary Wing” for the day of mock war, but the preparations didn’t begin there. For almost two years the 130th has held squadron and unit level readiness “mini-exercises” that emphasized on the learning aspect of preparing, responding and recovering. At home station, Airmen trained in many different areas, including but not limited to: Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP) familiarization, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives defense and recovery, self-aid buddy care (SABC), weapons qualifications, Post Attack Reconnaissance (PAR) operations and more. #CharlieWest | #ReadyToGo

This month's #CharlieWest Spotlight is Senior Airman Haley Ryan, an Aerospace Evacuation Technician assigned to the 167th Aerospace Evacuation Squadron! “I love fact that I never have to wake up and dread coming into work like previous jobs I have had, at the end of the day I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot, and that in itself is very rewarding for me,” Ryan explained. “I love the camaraderie I have with my squadron, even though I’m new, they welcomed me with open arms and I consider some of them my closest friends now. I love to fly and the 130th as given me the opportunity to do that.” Read the full story by clicking the link below!

Click the link below to view this month's edition of "Chief's Corner" by Chief Master Sgt. William Wnek, 130th Medical Group Superintendent. "’Together Each Achieves More.’ It is on the wall heading up the stairs of the headquarters building on base and one of my first impressions of the Wing here." Read the full story below!

Interested in joining the 130th Airlift Wing? We have vacancies open for YOU! Click the link to below to view the available vacancies such as HVAC, Crew Chief, Aerospace Maintenance and many more!

April is designated as the Month of the Military Child; a time to honor the sacrifices made by military families worldwide, with an emphasis on the experience of the dependent children of military members serving at home and overseas. Here are some facts about the military child life courtesy of the Department of Defense: -There are 700 military child development program facilities around the world, running approximately 155,000 child-care spaces, with another 3,000 Family Child Care homes which provide. -It’s estimated that military child development centers welcome around 200,000 children daily. There are 300 youth and teen centers worldwide serving more than 645,000 youth through a variety of educational and recreational programs. -Approximately 2 million military children have experienced a parental deployment since 9/11. There are currently 1.2 million military children of active duty members worldwide. -Nearly 80% of military children attend public schools throughout the United States. -The average military family moves three times more often than their civilian counterpart. -There are nearly two million “total-force dependent children” including more than 900 thousand Army dependents, 400 thousand Air Force dependents, nearly 300 thousand Navy and approximately 118 thousand Marine dependents.

This #ThrowbackThursday photo is of maintainers working on a T-6 Texan Trainer at Kanawha Airport, circa 1950. Before the transition to the 130th Air Commando Group in 1955, the base housed the 167th Fighter Squadron. (now 167th Airlift Wing - West Virginia Air National Guard in Martinsburg, W.Va.) #DYK In addition to the T-6 Trainers, the runway at Kanawha Airport held many different aircraft including P-51's, F-47's, a B-17.

On this day in 1961, before the 130th was designated as a special operations unit, it was tasked to participate in the widely known Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) sponsored invasion of Cuba, also known as Bay of Pigs. Airmen from the 130th were tasked to serve as cargo transport for ground troops, but the invasion never made it past the beaches. Two SA-16 Albatrosses from the 130th were slated to land troops in the Havana Harbor the night of the invasion, but the mission was cancelled when the invasion failed. No matter the mission, #CharlieWest is always #ReadyToGo!

Attention members! Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 17th, you are invited by West Virginia State University Football Team to attend their practice and tour the Monroe Complex as part of their Military Appreciation Day! Practice starts at 4:00 p.m. at Dickerson Stadium, Institute, W.Va.

Oh how the times have changed! Check out this #ThrowbackThursday of a fire engine when the 130th was just a young unit! From the beginning the 130th has been in a vital relationship with Yeager Airport. #ICYMI follow the link below to check out the story from January about our close partnership! https://www.130aw.ang.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1742515/130th-airlift-wing-yeager-airport-share-vital-relationship/

The 130th Airlift Wing hosted the Annual Employer Support Group of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Boss Lift April 4, 2019 at McLaughlin Air National Guard Base, Charleston, W.Va. The Boss Lift is a show of support for the employers of traditional guardsmen across the community and state, giving them a glimpse into what their employees, and our guardsmen, do in the military sector. The participants started the day by being briefed by West Virginia National Guard and 130th Airlift Wing leadership to learn about what encompasses the WVNG, from the history to present day. After the briefing they had the chance to fly on a 130th AW C-130 around the southern portion of West Virginia. They then toured the 130th Maintenance Group facilities and the WV STARBASE Academy!

While participating in FLARE 2019, a readiness exercise in Gulfport, Miss., our 130th Fire and Emergency Services Airmen found themselves in a very real world situation. Airman 1st Class Mikyle White and Staff Sgt. Christopher Bowman were working with the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center Fire Department when the station received a call of a local house fire. The resident was already rescued by the quick actions of a neighbor, so the Airmen assisted the local firefighters in performing ground fire operations. Check out some video footage from Wlox-Tv Channel 13/Abc below!! #ReadyToGo|#CharlieWest|#AlwaysReadyAlwaysThere

Today is the 68th anniversary of the darkest day in the 130th Airlift Wing’s history. On April 8, 1951, a C-47B Skytrain departing Godman Air Force Base, Ky. crashed just before landing at Kanawha Airport. Just four minutes from landing, the plane clipped a hillside and went down in a fiery crash, killing all 21 Airmen on board. More than 4,000 people attended a mass rite held at the Charleston Municipal Auditorium to show their support to the Airmen whose lives were lost. Today, we make sure that they are not forgotten by the Airmen who’ve inherited their legacy.

#DYK that April is #SexualAssaultAwarenessMonth? "Each Soldier and Airmen should make a personal commitment to end sexual harassment and sexual assault within our ranks and should embrace the message, “I will not tolerate it. I will not condone it. I will not ignore it.”," - Maj. Gen. James Hoyer, West Virginia National Guard Adjutant General. See the rest of the TAG's message by clicking the link below!

RT @WVNationalGuard: Soldiers and Airmen of the WVNG participated in a lunch-and learn self-defense technique class held April 17, 2019, at…

RT @WVNationalGuard: West Virginia Mountain Mama Lt. Emily Lilly showing how it's done! https://t.co/r75E7ESleu

RT @WVNationalGuard: MG James Hoyer announced a new initiative from the WVNG - the Future Leaders Program - alongside @WVFirstLady at Wests…

RT @WVNationalGuard: Today, April 5th, we honor those spouses who lost a loved one in military, killed in the line of duty in combat. We in…

Join us on Facebook today via live stream for the celebration of Col. Johnny Ryan's final flight! Video feed should be live at 1350 local.

RT @WVNationalGuard: “I will not tolerate it. I will not condone it. I will not ignore it.” The crime of sexual assault has no place here.…

RT @WVNationalGuard: Today we honor and remember our Vietnam Veteran brothers and sisters. #VietnamWarVeteransDay https://t.co/EiNxWeuduD

RT @GenChuckYeager: March 26, 1948, 71 yrs ago today: Someone had to do it. https://t.co/yJjQqdrKzi

RT @USNationalGuard: Today is National Medal of Honor Day. Since the Spanish-American War, 140 service members who have served in the Natio…

Follow the link below to read about how your West Virginia National Guard plays into Governor Jim Justice’s JIM’S D… https://t.co/82WtL35MeI

Click the link below to check out March's #ChiefsCorner, written by Chief Master Sgt. Patrick Hughes, the 130th Sec… https://t.co/pIxwwEfD79

RT @WVNationalGuard: “I couldn’t be more proud to be standing here as a general officer,” said BG Shepard, promoted March 3.  Shepard will…

RT @WVNationalGuard: Throughout history, women have driven humanity forward & fought tirelessly to broaden our democracy’s reach ... This i…

RT @WVNationalGuard: Check out this #MedalofHonorMonday highlight of #WV hero @WoodyWilliams45 from the DoD. https://t.co/fbhiP081Gw

RT @DeptofDefense: Today we honor “The Star-Spangled Banner,” which became our national anthem on this date in 1931. #NationalAnthemDay 🇺🇸…

RT @WVNationalGuard: We are celebrating #WHM19 by highlighting amazing women currently serving in the WVNG every Tuesday, & watch for WV mi…

RT @AirmanMagazine: 💪 https://t.co/qSOqQqOlMB

RT @WVNationalGuard: West Virginia Air National Guard Commander Brig. Gen. Christopher "Mookie" Walker was honored at the @WVDACH Cultural…

Today we're honoring #PresidentsDay with some shots from some visits of President George W. Bush, President Barack… https://t.co/6KuOWHxnrK

Congratulations to Hurricane, https://t.co/yspCmoAzoe. native, Airman 1st Class Jerrica Meadows, a Non-Destructive… https://t.co/nW5GEzxr1X