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. Magram attained the rank of assistant adjutant general and had been part of Baldwins inner circle. 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. The Fresno Air National Guard base hosted a ribbon cutting for its new fuel storage facilities, featuring tanks with increased capacities. Local Education He says new rules instituted in 2016 might make the incident a more serious crime, which would've brought in more seasoned investigators. Woodside says the IG system isn't working right now, though, because investigators aren't acting independently of wing commanders. 144th Fighter Wing taking to the skies for night-flight . They patrol state airspace and stand ready to respond to natural disasters and large-scale terrorist attacks. Alene Tchekmedyian And Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times Weeks later, the longtime head of the Guard, Maj. Gen. David Baldwin, retired. 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. They patrol state airspace and stand ready to respond to natural disasters and large-scale terrorist attacks. Federal investigators on Thursday arrested a 21-year-old air national guardsman who they believe is linked to a trove of leaked classified U.S . He Toppled Vince McMahon. Both of them, along with others, felt targeted by Sikora's remarks, the report said. Kelly's future in the Guard has yet to be determined, Keegan said. ID cardquestions and appointments: Latest The 20,000-member Guard, a branch of the California Military Department, which is also led by the adjutant general, serves a dual mission that includes responding to emergencies in the state, such as earthquakes, wildfires and civil disturbances, and assisting U.S. armed forces in military operations overseas. Col. Jeremiah Cruz was named Kelly's interim replacement. Garrison and Kelly did not respond to interview requests. Dave Bakos, a retired general who served in the Guard for 32 years and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, was among those who said Garrison should have demanded a more thorough investigation from the start. Investigators only talked to three other people the first time around and came up empty. Director of Psychological Health: SACRAMENTO, Calif. Grand juries in Fresno and Sacramento have indicted eight current or former members of the California National Guard, in seven separate cases, charging them with wire fraud for fraudulently obtaining recruiting referral bonuses, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. 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.. 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. (559) 454-5383 Magram had generally confirmed the members accounts of running errands for him, according to the report. Commander out at California Air National Guard after scandal Gen. Jones will be able to lead the organization effectively and with the utmost integrity.. 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. Scandals taint highest ranks of National Guard - PressReader The inquiry also determined that Magram failed to complete his annual cybersecurity training and thus had lower-ranking Guard members each day request that headquarters temporarily restore his computer access. 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 scandal dates back to March 2015, when Staff Sgt. 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. 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. At least five guard members from the 144th wing filed formal complaints. The 144th Fighter Wing (FW) of the California Air National Guard occupies two separate parcels of land (the main base area and the Munitions Storage Area) totaling 110.726 acres (0.44809 km 2) of leased land on the Fresno Yosemite International Airport . 144th FW signs Heritage jet. The command change follows aLos Angeles Timesreport on allegations that whistleblowers at the guard's Fresno base suffered reprisals for questioning actions or conduct, including an incident in which a female guard member discovered urine in her boots. The scandal dates back to March 2015, when Staff Sgt. National Guard scandals include sexual misconduct, coverups, reprisals They didn't identify any suspects and eventually got rid of the urine without ever testing it for DNA. A 144th pilot, Lt. Col. The California National Guard has been buffeted by allegations of misconduct in its upper ranks, coverups and retaliation against whistleblowers. Published Apr 15, 2019 10:00 AM EDT. Several Guard members took Sikora's remarks as a criticism of people who had filed complaints with the inspector general. Gavin Newsom referred questions about Friday's shakeup back to the Guard. The 20,000-member Guard serves a dual stateand-federal mission that includes responding to emergencies in California, such as earthquakes, wildfires and civil disturbances, and assisting U.S. armed forces in military operations overseas. The first of three. Jones has served as assistant adjutant general since December 2017. Members of the 144ths security forces, who police the base, conducted two investigations, according to internal investigative records obtained by the Times. Captain Nehring is an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot with California Air National Guard's 194th Fighter Squadron in Fresno. Garrison was removed because the California Military Department, which oversees the air and army branches of the Guard, had lost faith, trust and confidence in his ability to lead, a spokesman said. FRESNO, Calif. The head of the California Air National Guard, Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison, was relieved of command and replaced by 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. California California Air National Guard removes commander over threats against whistleblowers A third high-ranking officer in the California Air National Guard has been removed from. Magram, who was once director of the Guard's 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. Committee votes on major defense policy bill expected in May, Military families share workout with first lady Jill Biden, US conducts first evacuation of its citizens from Sudan war, Ukrainian drones strike Crimea oil depot, Russian official says, Interior designers remodel Jack Teixeiras camo bedroom monstrosity, Understanding the role of artificial intelligence, Mark Kitz keynote speech at the C4ISRNET conference, The latest on software, data and artificial intelligence, Russians seem to be baiting US jets to dogfight in Syria, general says, Biden awards football trophy to Air Force Academy, Commanders suspended at base where alleged Pentagon leaker worked, Military sex assault reports rise, even as Army numbers fall, Davis-Monthan to launch new special operations wing as A-10 retires. A six-barrel cannon can shoot enemy fighters out of the sky. 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. Then something changed, Most of Yosemite Valley is closed due to potentially perilous snowpack and flooding, 7 hospitalized after driver in stolen car runs red light in San Bernardino, police say, Barstow police investigating after officer caught on video hitting man with a baton, Man found guilty of murdering teens who ding-dong-ditched his house, Sacramento, San Francisco mayors take shots at each others city before NBA playoff game, Unseasonable rain, cooler temperatures in forecast for Los Angeles this week. Hawkins received a letter of reprimand as a result, the Guard said. Fresno Guard pilots who step into an F-16 cockpit might risk their lives or carry in their hands the survival of others and the. You must meet certain enlistment criteria to qualify for the Air 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 . Off the Bottom Rope Careers - AF Woodside says it should've been handled differently from the start, especially since people in command positions might've been involved. 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. 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. 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. 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