Muñiz Air National Guard Base

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Coordinates: 18°26′21″N 66°0′7″W / 18.43917°N 66.00194°W / 18.43917; -66.00194 (Muñiz ANGB)
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Muñiz Air National Guard Base
AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
8/26 3,169.9 metres (10,400 ft) Asphalt
10/28 2,443.2 metres (8,016 ft) Concrete
Airfield shared with Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1]

Muñiz Air National Guard Base is the home base for the Puerto Rico Air National Guard. This installation is located within the grounds of Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in Carolina, Puerto Rico 14 km (9 miles) east of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Overview

The

156th Airlift Wing mission is to provide airlift support for missions of the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) and airlift for joint military exercises while displaying military capabilities and bolster United States ties with our Latin American neighbors. The 198th Airlift Squadron, a subordinate unit of the 156th Airlift Wing, also located at Muñiz Air National Base provides airlift support. The 156th Airlift Wing is under the Air National Guard/Air Mobility Command.[2]
Muñiz Air National Guard Base also commonly known in Spanish as "Base Muñiz" provides support in local emergencies and mobilization of U.S. military troops from Puerto Rico for deployments worldwide.

History

Lieutenant Colonel José Antonio Muñiz, co-founder of the PRANG.

The Puerto Rico Air National Guard consolidated its operations and moved from the

A-7D
Corsair. The first A-7s arrived in November and the last in March 1976.

Jose Antonio Muñiz

In 1963 the Air National Guard Base was renamed "Muñiz Air National Guard Base" while commemorating the 20th anniversary of its federal recognition in honor of Puerto Rico Air National Guard Co-founder, Lieutenant Colonel José Antonio Muñiz a former United States Air Force officer who during World War II served in the United States Army Air Forces. In 1960, Muñiz was killed when his F-86D flamed out on take-off and crashed. The Lieutenant Colonel José Antonio Muñiz Memorial is located at this base.

Attack by Macheteros

On January 12, 1981, 10

United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations became in charge of the investigation. The loss was calculated at $45 million. The base Security detail increased from 11 to 22 Air Force Security Police
personnel and 46 civilian contract guards.

Papal visit and presidential visit

On October 12, 1984,

George P. Shultz at Muñiz ANGB. Pope John Paul II left Puerto Rico on the evening that same day.[3]

On June 14, 2011, United States president

Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi at Muñiz Air National Guard Base and he was greeted by Governor Luis Fortuño
. Later, after campaigning, President Obama gave a speech from a hangar at Muñiz Air National Guard Base.

Air mobility role

On November 22, 1997. Muñiz ANGB received its first

Lockheed C-130s
while celebrating the 50th anniversary of its federal recognition. The Air Force announced conversion of the 156th Fighter Wing from F-16A/B aircraft to C-130 aircraft, changing the task from combat to transport.

Operation Coronet Oak

Coronet Oak was the name for the continuing operation in which Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) and Air National Guard (ANG) C-130 aircraft, aircrews and related support personnel deploy from the United States to Muñiz Air National Guard Base, Puerto Rico, to provide theater airlift support for the U.S. Southern Command. The Guard and Reserve support the Coronet Oak mission year round since April 19, 1999 from Muñiz Air National Guard Base when this mission moved from Howard Air Force Base, Panama as result of the U.S. military withdrawal from Panama. Units rotate in and out of Muñiz ANGB every two weeks. Forces assigned to CORONET OAK provide United States Southern Command with logistic and contingency support throughout Central and South America.[5]

Today

Muñiz's PRANG P-47 on display at Muñiz Air National Guard Base.

Since 1997 the mission for Muñiz Air National Guard base and the 156th Fighter Wing is to provide air mobility support for the U.S. Southern Command. This air base also provides mobilization to assist with humanitarian support in natural disasters such as the

Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom
.

Muñiz Air National Guard Base host the STARBASE Youth Program. STARBASE is a nonresidential educational program for students (grades K-12) that provides them with real-world applications of math and science. Hundreds of students from schools all over Puerto Rico come to Muñiz ANGB to participate in the STARBASE Youth Program.[6]

Some

Base Exchange
and The Puerto Rico National Guard institutional trust (FIGNA) office.

Based units

Flying and notable non-flying units based at Muñiz Air National Guard Base.[7]

United States Air Force

Air National Guard

  • Puerto Rico Air National Guard
    • 156th Wing
      • 156th Operations Group
      • 156th Maintenance Group
        • 156th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
        • 156th Maintenance Operations Flight
        • 156th Maintenance Squadron
      • 156th Medical Group
      • 156th Mission Support Group
        • 156th Force Support Squadron
        • 156th Logistics Readiness Squadron
        • 156th Civil Engineer Squadron
        • 156th Communications Flight
        • 156th Security Forces Squadron

See also

References

  1. ^ "Airport Diagram – Luis Muñoz Marín Intl (SJU) (TJSJ)" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Globalsecurity.org-Military-156th Airlift Wing [156th AW]". Global Security.org. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  3. ^ "John Paul II". Five Franciscan Martyrs Region-Secular Franciscan Order.
  4. ^ "Puerto Rico Gets First Presidential Visit In 50 Years". Vermont Public Radio(VPR), National Public Radio (NPR).
  5. ^ "Globalsecutiry.org-Coronet Oak". Global Security.org. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  6. ^ "What is STARBASE PR?". The Department of Defense Youth Programs.
  7. ^ "Units". 156th Wing. US Air Force. Retrieved 25 February 2020.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Muñiz_Air_National_Guard_Base&oldid=1207149463"