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S.J.R. 12
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9 LONG TITLE
10 General Description:
11 This joint resolution of the Legislature honors the 388th Fighter Wing and the 419th
12 Fighter Wing from Hill Air Force Base.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This resolution:
15 . honors the 388th Fighter Wing and the 419th Fighter Wing for their contributions to
16 our nation's and state's security and defense; and
17 . recognizes the many accomplishments of the fighter wings' personnel and
18 component units, both in their mission in defense of our nation and in the Utah
19 community.
20 Special Clauses:
21 None
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23 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24 WHEREAS, Hill Air Force Base's 388th Fighter Wing and 419th Fighter Wing became
25 the United States Air Force's first active duty and reserve fighter associate wing under the Air
26 Force's Total Force Integration initiative;
27 WHEREAS, the 388th Fighter Wing and 419th Fighter Wing have served the Utah
28 community for dozens of years;
29 WHEREAS, both fighter wings provide relevant, versatile, and lethal airpower in
30 support of the Global War on Terror, particularly in support of ground troops;
31 WHEREAS, over 200 members of the 729th Air Control Squadron, one of only four air
32 control squadrons in the Air Force, deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, providing
33 invaluable radar air surveillance and command and control of coalition aircraft;
34 WHEREAS, over 400 airmen and associated F-16s deployed to Balad Air Base in Iraq
35 in August 2007 as part of the wings' planned 400 consecutive-day presence in the Central
36 Command area of responsibility in the first-ever joint deployment of reserve volunteers with
37 the active duty 388th Fighter Wing;
38 WHEREAS, 35 members of the 419th Security Forces Squadron deployed to Kirkuk
39 Air Base, Iraq for four months in defense of the base's perimeter;
40 WHEREAS, over 300 airmen from the wings are currently deployed in support of
41 Operation Iraqi Freedom;
42 WHEREAS, another 280 reserve and active-duty personnel volunteered for
43 deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom during fiscal year 2007, leaving family at
44 home and putting civilian careers on hold for up to six months;
45 WHEREAS, the 388th Fighter Wing and the 419th Fighter Wing train at Hill Air Force
46 Base and the Utah Test and Training Range;
47 WHEREAS, the Utah Test and Training Range is the Department of Defense's largest
48 overland test and evaluation facility, with 2.3 million acres of airspace;
49 WHEREAS, the 388th Fighter Wing and the 419th Fighter Wing have been selected by
50 the Chief of Staff of the Air Force as the first operational home of the F-35 Lightning II,
51 America's fifth-generation stealth and heavy-strike fighter;
52 WHEREAS, 150 388th Fighter Wing airmen and associated F-16s deployed to Peru in
53 February 2007 to participate in a joint exercise with the Peruvian air force and build military
54 and civilian relations in the region;
55 WHEREAS, the 388th Fighter Wing and the 419th Fighter Wing expanded their fleet of
56 F-16s by six aircraft in April 2007;
57 WHEREAS, the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron hosted its annual Weapons System
58 Evaluation Program at the Utah Test and Training Range in August 2007, with six types of
59 aircraft flying over 250 sorties to gather information on weapons performance to be used by the
60 Commander of Air Combat Command;
61 WHEREAS, in fiscal year 2007, the 388th Fighter Wing hosted coalition partners at the
62 Utah Test and Training Range, including the Brazilian, Dutch, Danish, and Royal air forces;
63 WHEREAS, the 388th Fighter Wing and the 419th Fighter Wing are involved in
64 community programs in Utah;
65 WHEREAS, in early 2007, the 388th Fighter Wing corrosion control painted a P-47
66 Thunderbolt and a CH-3E helicopter for the Hill Aerospace Museum, home to over 80 aircraft
67 and many educational displays;
68 WHEREAS, in April 2007, the 419th Fighter Wing held its annual Employer
69 Appreciation Day for the civilian employers of its reservists to promote a better understanding
70 of the importance of employer support of reservists' participation;
71 WHEREAS, F-16 pilots and supporting airmen in both wings participated in
72 Independence Day celebration flyovers in 15 communities;
73 WHEREAS, the wings hosted 130 World War II veterans at the send-off for Operation
74 Hero Flight, an effort to send every World War II veteran to the World War II monument in
75 Washington, DC;
76 WHEREAS, personnel from the 419th Fighter Wing collected hundreds of school
77 supplies for Iraqi schoolchildren for Operation School Supplies;
78 WHEREAS, the Reserve 67th Aerial Port Squadron holds an annual Christmas party
79 for a special-needs class at Mound Fort Middle School;
80 WHEREAS, "Viper West," one of two single-ship F-16 demonstration teams in Air
81 Combat Command, performed its combat capabilities demonstration at approximately 28
82 national and international air shows in 2007;
83 WHEREAS, the 388th Fighter Wing hosts an Honorary Commander program for 18
84 local civic leaders to give those leaders experience with the Air Force's mission and interaction
85 with Hill Air Force Base's personnel;
86 WHEREAS, the Salt Lake Military Affairs Committee honored two 419th Fighter
87 Wing personnel as "Outstanding Reservists of the Year" at its annual Military Appreciation
88 Banquet in October 2007;
89 WHEREAS, the 419th Maintenance Group and the 466th Fighter Squadron were
90 named as Air Force Outstanding Unit of the Year in 2007;
91 WHEREAS, the 388th Fighter Wing was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit in
92 December 2007 for contributions from June 2005 to May 2007;
93 WHEREAS, the 388th Fighter Wing had eight units and 27 individuals awarded
94 superior performance honors during a September 2007 Unit Compliance Inspection;
95 WHEREAS, the 388th Fighter Wing and 419th Fighter Wing continue to contribute to
96 our nation's security and defense and to Utah's community; and
97 WHEREAS, both Fighter Wings' involvement in Hill Air Force Base's mission and
98 their collaboration under the Total Force Integration initiative contributed to the base being
99 selected as one of two finalists for the Air Force's Installation Excellence Award, awarded to
100 the best Air Force base in the world:
101 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Legislature of the State of Utah
102 honors the 388th Fighter Wing and the 419th Fighter Wing for their outstanding service in
103 defense of our nation.
104 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Legislature of the State of Utah applauds the
105 388th Fighter Wing and the 419th Fighter Wing for their continued community service, making
106 their presence for good felt throughout many of Utah's communities.
107 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be sent to the 388th
108 Fighter Wing, the 419th Fighter Wing, and Hill Air Force Base.
Legislative Review Note
as of 2-8-08 12:05 PM