♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ IS >> HELLO, AND WELCOME TO "INSIDE LOUISVILLE" WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE UP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

THIS WEEK WE TAKE YOU INSIDE THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD.

NOW YOU MAY NOT KNOW IT BUT THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD IS A SPECIALIZED DIVISION OF THE KENTUCKY NATIONAL GUARD.

AND IT'S ONE OF THE MOST DECORATED UNITS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

YOU HAVE LIKELY SEEN THE RESPONSE TO FLOODS AND TORNADOES IN KENTUCKY OVER PAST FEW YEARS.

BUT YOU MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THEY DO TO HELP OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD.

MOST RECENTLY MEMBERS OF THE 123rd AIR LIFT WING RESPONDED TO RECOVER VICTIMS FROM HURRICANE HELENE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

TAKE A LOOK.

THE 1200 MEMBERS OF THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD ARE ALWAYS READY TO RESPOND AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE.

JUST DAYS AFTER HURRICANE HELENE KILLED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, A SPECIAL UNIT OF THE 123rd AIR LIFT WING CALLED THE FATALITY SEARCH AND RECOVERY TEAM, OR F-SEARCH, HIT THE ROAD TO HELP.

>> WE ARE BRINGING WITH US ATV VEHICLES, REFRIGERATION TRAILERS FOR TRANSPORT AND STORAGE AS WELL AS GENERATORS, ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL UNITS AND TENTS SO WE CAN SUSTAIN THE MISSION AS LONG AS WE ARE NEEDED.

THERE ARE CERTAIN RISKS FOLLOWING THE AFTERMATH OF A HURRICANE.

THE TEAM HAS BEEN BRIEFED AND WE ARE TRAINED TO OPERATE IN AUSTERE ENVIRONMENTS TO MITIGATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

>> IN THIS INSTANCE, A SPECIALLY-TRAINED TEAM WORKS WITH CORONERS AND OTHER LOCAL OFFICIALS TO RECOVER REMAINS.

EACH MISSION IS UNIQUE FOR BOTH THE HELPED AND THE HELPERS.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS THAT COME FOLLOWING A MISSION SUCH AS THIS.

THE NATURE OF THE WORK IS DEMANDING.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS EXCITING.

AND IT CAN BE HARD, ESPECIALLY FOR THE YOUNGER AIRMEN.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY THE BEST PART OF THE JOB IS THE CLOSURE WE ARE ABLE TO BRING FAMILIES.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS WORK SO WORTH IT AND SO IMPORTANT.

WE ARE NOT, UNFORTUNATELY, IN THE BUSINESS OF RESCUING HOWEVER, TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER SOMEBODY BACK HOME TO THEIR FAMILY AND LOVED ONES SO THEY CAN GIVE THEIR FINAL GOODBYES IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY DRIVES THIS TEAM TO COMPLETE THE MISSION.

>> THEY ARE JUST A FRACTION OF THE MORE THAN 6,000 ARMY AND AIR NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS FROM 15 STATES THAT WERE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN RECENT HURRICANE RESPONSE AND RECOVERY EFFORTS, SOMETHING THEY TRAIN FOR YEAR ROUND.

>> I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR EVERYBODY'S, YOU KNOW, OUR LEADERSHIP, FOR THEIR ABILITY TO GET EVERYTHING GENERATED AND GET US OUT THE DOOR AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

I KNOW THIS IS A REALLY DIFFICULT TIME, ESPECIALLY WITH NORTH CAROLINA AND ALL THEY'RE DEALING WITH.

SO FOR EVERYBODY TO COME TOGETHER IN SUCH SHORT NOTICE TO GET US OUT THE DOOR AND THE AIRMEN TO BE AS PREPARED AND WILLING TO GO AS THEY ARE, IS PHENOMENAL.

>> AND THAT'S JUST A FRACTION OF WHAT THEY DO.

THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD HAS BOTH A FEDERAL AND STATE MISSION.

THEY'RE ON CALL TO SUPPORT THE NATIONAL GUARD OF THE UNITED STATES.

IN ADDITION TO BEING PART OF THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD.

THAT MEANS THEY'RE ON CALL 24/7 TO SUPPORT THE U.S. AIR FORCE IN MILITARY OPERATIONS AROUND THE WORLD, IN ADDITION TO THOSE HERE AT HOME.

WHETHER IT IS SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS, SUPPLY TRANSPORT, DISTRIBUTION OF VITAL SUPPLIES, OR RESTORING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, THEIR HELP IS OFTEN THE FIRST TO ARRIVE IN CRISIS SITUATIONS.

MOST RECENTLY IN KENTUCKY YOU MAY REMEMBER IMAGES FROM THEIR SWIFT RESPONSE TO FLOODING IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND TORNADOES IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

THIS YEAR THE GUARD OPENED A NEW JOINT FORCE HEADQUARTERS IN DANIEL BOONE CENTER IN FRANKFORT BRINGING TOGETHER OPERATIONS FOR THE KENTUCKY NATIONAL GUARD AND THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD.

GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR CALLED IT AN IMPORTANT STEP IN MAINTAINING THIS IMPORTANT COLLABORATION.

WHAT IT MEANS IS WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE BEST PREPARED NATIONAL GUARD IN THE COUNTRY.

THEY RESPONDED AFTER TORNADOES.

THEY'VE RESPONDED AFTER FLOODS.

THEY'VE DEPLOYED OVER AND OVER ACROSS THE WORLD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SAFE.

THIS IS GOING TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE BEST LEADERSHIP, THE BEST EQUIPMENT, BEST COMMUNICATIONS.

IT IS GOING TO MEAN BETTER COMMUNICATION WITH FAMILIES WHO HAVE A LOVED ONE LEAVE TO SERVE US ABROAD OR ACROSS KENTUCKY.

IT'S GOING TO MEAN THAT WE ARE GIVING BACK TO OUR NATIONAL GUARD WHO GIVES SO MUCH TO US.

THIS IS A GOOD DAY.

>> WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE COLONEL NICK MILES HERE TO TELL US ABOUT THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD, EXACTLY WHAT IT IS YOU ALL DO.

>> SO THE KENTUCKY NATIONAL GUARD IS MADE UP OF TWO COMPONENTS, THE KENTUCKY ARMY NATIONAL GUARD AND THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD.

KENTUCKY ARMY NATIONAL GUARD IS COMPOSED OF ABOUT 6500 SOLDIERS.

THEY'RE STATIONED THROUGHOUT THE ARMORIES ACROSS THE STATE.

KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD IS MADE UP OF 1200 AIRMEN STATIONED HERE IN LOUISVILLE AT MUHAMMAD ALI NATIONAL AIRPORT.

WE HAVE A DUAL MISSION.

A STATE MISSION AND A FEDERAL MISSION.

THE STATE MISSION IS TO ANSWER TO THE GOVERNOR, THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY, TO DO OUR STATE MISSION, AND THE STATE MISSION MAY LOOK LIKE DISASTER RELIEF, EMERGENCY RESPONSE, DELIVERING FOOD AND WATER PROVIDING MEDICAL CARE.

BUT WE ARE ALSO CONSTANTLY TRAINING FOR OUR FEDERAL MISSION WHICH IS SUPPORT OPERATIONS OVERSEAS.

DOING THE THINGS THAT FOLKS THINK ABOUT WHENEVER THEY THINK OF THE ACTIVE DUTY AIR FORCE.

>> AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED IN EVERY MILITARY MISSION SINCE DESERT STORM.

>> YES, SO I DON'T THINK TODAY A LOT OF FOLKS THINK OF THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BEING ONE WEEKEND A MONTH OR TWO MONTHS A YEAR.

IT IS THERE.

WE HAVE CITIZEN SOLDIERS, FOLKS THAT DO THEIR CIVILIAN JOB AND ALSO GET CALLED UP TO SERVE.

BUT SINCE 9/11, THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD HAS LOGGED OVER HALF A MILLION DAYS DEPLOYED TO OVER 45 COUNTRIES ON EVERY CONTINENT INCLUDING ANTARCTICA.

IF YOU CAN THINK OF AN OPERATION THAT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE PAST 20 OF TO 25 YEARS, THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD HAS BEEN THERE.

>> AND THAT'S AMAZING THAT THEY'RE RIGHT HERE IN OUR BACKYARD.

TALK ABOUT THE FOCUS OF LOUISVILLE AND HOW THEY ARE BASED HERE AND CALL THIS HOME, AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU ALL ARE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD HAS BEEN OPERATING OUT OF THE AIRPORT HERE IN LOUISVILLE SINCE 1946.

SO WE HAVE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME.

I KNOW FOR ME, I GREW UP ABOUT TWO AND A HALF HOURS SOUTHEAST OF LOUISVILLE IN RUSSELL COUNTY, KENTUCKY.

BUT MY GRANDPARENTS LIVED ONLY LIKE FIVE MINUTES FROM THE LOUISVILLE AIRPORT.

AND I DIDN'T KNOW THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD EVEN EXISTED.

SO I INITIALLY JOINED ACTIVE DUTY.

I DID JOIN THE ACTIVE DUTY FOR 11 YEARS, SERVED SEVERAL DEPLOYMENTS ON ACTIVE DUTY.

BUT THEN CAME TO THE GUARD IN 2015.

I HAVE DONE TWO DEPLOYMENTS FROM HERE IN LOUISVILLE WITH THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD.

AND ONE THING THAT I WILL SAY THAT IS VERY DIFFERENT BETWEEN ACTIVE DUTY AND THE GUARD IS THAT ON ACTIVE DUTY, YOU ARE OFTEN DEPLOYING FROM SOMEPLACE THAT YOU JUST MOVED TO.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, ON ONE OF MY DEPLOYMENTS THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT LONGER, MY WIFE AND KIDS MOVED BACK HERE TO KENTUCKY WHILE I WAS GONE, JUST TO GET THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEEDED.

BUT WHENEVER WE DEPLOY IN THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD, WE DEPLOY FROM OUR HOME.

SO WE GET THAT SUPPORT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD, FROM OUR SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.

SO WE SAW A BIG DIFFERENCE THERE BETWEEN THOSE TWO DEPLOYMENTS ON ACTIVE DUTY AND THE GUARD.

THE OTHER THING I'LL MENTION IS JUST THE EXPERIENCE LEVEL.

THE GUARD, A LOT OF OUR FOLKS WILL SERVE FOR 40 YEARS IN THE GUARD.

I NOTICED A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE EXPERIENCE OF OUR AIR CREW, MAINTENANCE, SUPPORT PERSONNEL AND REALLY WHENEVER WE DEPLOY, IT'S A COMMUNITY EFFORT.

IT TAKES THE WHOLE CITY OF LOUISVILLE TO DEPLOY US.

>> YEAH, IT REALLY IS INCREDIBLE.

AND THE PLACES THAT YOU'VE GONE TO.

BUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LOUISVILLE, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU ALL EVEN USE, LIKE DERBY HORSES.

THAT'S YOUR CALL, RIGHT?

>> I MEAN, EVERYTHING IS TIED HERE TO THE COMMUNITY.

SO OUR CALL SIGN WHEN WE FLY AROUND IN THE LOCAL AREA, OR EVEN ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES WE USE THE DERBY CALL SIGN, DERBY 2-1, OR DERBY 3-1.

ALL OF OUR AIRCRAFT ARE NAMED AFTER DERBY WINNING HORSES.

ALL THE MILITARY AIRCRAFT ARE AIRCRAFT, SO WE HAVE SILVER CHARM, JUSTIFY, ALL SORTS OF DERBY WINNERS THAT OUR AIRCRAFT ARE NAMED AFTER.

>> YOU ARE TRULY EMBEDDED HERE.

>> WE ARE.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE YOU ARE HERE?

>> YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE.

IT'S RIGHT THERE AT THE AIRPORT.

IF YOU ARE TAKING OFF FROM THE RUNWAYS THERE, OR SITTING IN THE TERMINAL, YOU CAN SEE THE 130s SO I'M NOT REALLY SURE.

I THINK ON THE NEWS, THEY FOCUS SO MUCH ON THE ACTIVE DUTY, A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST ASSOCIATE WITH WHAT IS GOING ON, ESPECIALLY OVERSEAS, WITH THE ACTIVE DUTY.

BUT THE GUARD IS ALWAYS THERE.

THEY'RE ALWAYS A PART OF IT.

TAKE, FOR INSTANCE WHAT WE DID DO WITH THE AIR LIFT HERE IN LOUISVILLE.

TACTICAL AIRLIFT.

OVER 40% OF THE TACTICAL AIR LIFT IS DONE BY THE GUARD, SO IF THE AIR FORCE IS MOVING, IF IT IS DOING AN OPERATION ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, THE GUARD IS GOING TO BE PART OF THAT, AND CERTAINLY THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD IS ALWAYS PART OF IT.

>> WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD RECENTLY IN KENTUCKY BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN HOW YOU ALL RESPOND WHEN IT COMES TO FLOODS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, TORNADOES IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

WHAT GOES INTO THAT?

AND THAT SIDE OF WHAT YOU ALL DO?

>> WE ARE CONSTANTLY PREPARING FOR THOSE OPERATIONS HERE IN THE STATE, AND WE HAVE SEEN A LOT MORE HERE RECENTLY BECAUSE WE HAPPEN TO HAVE THE TORNADOES IN 2021, FOLLOWED PRETTY CLOSELY OF THAT BY THE FLOODS IN 2022.

AND SO THE KENTUCKY NATIONAL GUARD AS A WHOLE WAS INVOLVED IN THAT, AND THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD WAS A BIG PIECE OF IT SO WE DEPLOYED SECURITY PERSONNEL, MEDICAL PERSONNEL, CHAPLAINS, TO GO SUPPORT THOSE HUMANITARIAN RELIEF EFFORTS.

ONE THING THAT MAKES THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD SPECIAL, JUST AMONGST THE NATIONAL GUARD, IS THAT WE HAVE ONE OF ONLY TWO SPECIAL TACTIC SQUADRONS, IN THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD, ONE OF ONLY TWO LOCATED HERE IN KENTUCKY.

YOU CAN THINK OF LIKE NAVY SEALS OR ARMY RANGERS, THAT'S THE AIR FORCE'S SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUND FORCES AND SO THEY DO ALL SORTS OF COOL STUFF.

IT'S A SUPER SELECTIVE PROCESS.

THEY GO THROUGH A LOT OF TRAINING.

THEY'VE GOT ALL SORTS OF COOL WEAPONS AND VEHICLES THAT THEY DON'T LET ME FIRE OR DRIVE.

BUT THEY ARE A HUGE ASSET TO THE STATE.

SO IN THE CASE OF BOTH THE TORNADOES AND THE FLOODS, THEY WERE ABLE TO RESPOND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

THEY WENT ON THE KENTUCKY ARMY NATIONAL GUARD'S HELICOPTERS, SO THAT WAS A JOINT EFFORT THERE TO GET THEM INTO PLACE.

ONCE THEY WERE INTO PLACE, THEY WERE USING THEIR BOATS, USING THEIR SPECIALIZED SKILLS TO IMMEDIATELY START RESPONDING TO KENTUCKIANS.

ALSO PART OF THAT GROUP IS PROBABLY THE MOST FAMOUS KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARDSMAN AND THAT WOULD BE CALLIE.

CALLIE IS A DUTCH GERMAN SHEPHERD AND THE ONLY SEARCH AND RESCUE CANINE IN THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, AND SHE IS LOCATED RIGHT HERE IN LOUISVILLE.

SO CHECK HER OUT.

SHE HAS AN ENORMOUS SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWING.

>> WOW!

>> SO SHE IS VERY POPULAR.

>> THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

AND THAT ALSO INCLUDES PLANNING FOR FUTURE POSSIBLE DISASTERS.

WHAT IS THAT PROCESS LIKE?

I KNOW YOU ARE INVOLVED IN PLANNING FOR WHAT COULD STILL HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.

>> YEAH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT.

AS SOON AS THE TORNADOES ENDED.

AS SOON AS WE GOT DONE WITH THE FLOOD RELIEF, OUR PART OF THAT, THAT'S STILL TAKING PLACE FOR THE STATE.

WE LOOKED AT HOW CAN WE DO THAT BETTER AND START PLANNING FOR THE NEXT NATURAL DISASTER.

IT'S A GROUP EFFORT, THE KENTUCKY ARMY NATIONAL GUARD, KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD, KENTUCKY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT POLICE, WORKING WITH FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGE MANY.

WE ARE WORKING WITH THE F.A.A.

SO IT'S A GROUP EFFORT ACROSS ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL, GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PREPARED.

PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ONE THAT WE ARE PREPARED FOR IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY, THINKING ABOUT THE NEW MADRID FAULT LINE.

WE HAD THE DEVASTATING QUAKES IN 1811 AND 1812.

SO IT'S NOT A MATTER OF IF BUT A MATTER OF WHEN WE WILL SEE THOSE GO OFF.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE ARE ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT, PREPARING FOR, MAKE SURE WE ARE READY TO SERVE KENTUCKIANS WHEN IT TIME COMES.

>> WHAT GOES INTO PREPARING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

THERE IS SUCH AN UNKNOWN.

HOW DO YOU PREPARE?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

ONE THING THAT WE HAVE DONE RECENTLY, WE HAVE ENGAGED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.

THEIR GEOLOGISTS HAVE BEEN HELPING US OUT LOOK AT MODELS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN EXPECT IN TERMS OF THE DAMAGE IN THE STATE.

WE LOOK AT LEAST ON THE AIR GUARD SIDE, WE LOOK AT WHAT AIRPORTS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR US TO GET INTO.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET OUR FOLKS IN PLACE TO START HELPING WITH SEARCH AND RESCUE, GETTING FOOD AND WATER, SHELTER TO PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.

>> WOW.

IT'S NOT EXCLUSIVE TO KENTUCKY EITHER.

YOU ALL RESPOND TO HURRICANES, EARTHQUAKES, ALL OF THESE TYPES OF THINGS ALL OVER THE WORD.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

YOU WILL SEE THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD.

WE'VE GOT KENTUCKY WRITTEN ON OUR AIRPLANES.

YOU WILL SEE THE AIRCRAFT ALL OVER THE WORLD RESPONDING TO DISASTERS.

YOU WILL ALSO SEE OUR SPECIAL TACTICS SQUADRON FOLKS I TALKED ABOUT.

THEY CAN GO INTO AIRFIELDS.

THEY HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE TRAINED, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO BRING IN AIRCRAFT INTO PLACES GET PERSONNEL OUT QUICKLY.

THE OTHER THING THAT IS REALLY SPECIAL ABOUT THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD IS THAT WE HAVE THE FIRST OF THREE CONTINGENCY RESPONSE GROUPS IN THE ENTIRE AIR NATIONAL GUARD.

SO WE CALL IT AN AIRPORT IN A BOX, BUT IT'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS AIR FORCE SPECIALTIES FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS YOU CAN THINK OF THAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO RUN AN AIRFIELD.

AND THEY'RE ABLE TO SET THAT UP WITH A VERY QUICK RESPONSE TIME AND SO THEY HAVE USED THEM, FOR INSTANCE, THE 2010 EARTHQUAKES IN HAITI.

THEY SENT IN THE CONTINGENCY RESPONSE GROUP FOR THAT.

THE 2014 EBOLA OUTBREAK IN AFRICA, THEY SET UP AN AIRFIELD FOR THAT.

THEY ALSO SERVED DURING THE 2017, SEVERAL DIFFERENT HURRICANES THAT TOOK PLACE DURING THAT TIMEFRAME.

THEN MOST RECENTLY, THEY WERE USED IN 2021 DURING THE WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN.

WE HAD A MAJOR HUMANITARIAN CRISIS, AND THEY DEPLOYED UP TO WISCONSIN TO SET UP AN AIRFIELD WHERE THEY PROCESSED OVER 11,000 AFGHAN REFUGEES.

>> SO THAT'S WHERE YOU GO AND LITERALLY, AN AIRPORT IN A BOX.

>> THEY CALL IT AN AIRPORT IN A BOX, BUT THEY'VE GOT ALL THE EQUIPMENT AND ALL THE PERSONNEL TO SET UP AN AIRFIELD, BASICALLY FROM SCRATCH ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

>> WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT?

>> IT'S SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THE FIRST RESPONSE USUALLY IN CRISIS IS AIR; ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT PLACES AROUND THE WORLD.

USUALLY U.S. AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT ARE GOING TO BE THE FIRST PEOPLE ABLE TO RESPOND FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT CAN START LANDING, THE AIRFIELD HAS TO BE SECURED AND PREPARED, AND WE ARE VERY LUCKY HERE IN THE STATE FROM STATE RESPONSE CAPABILITY THAT WE HAVE BOTH SPECIAL TACTIC SQUADRON AND CONTINGENCY RESPONSE GROUP THAT CAN DO THESE THINGS FOR OUR STATE.

>> THAT'S UNIQUE TO KENTUCKY AND LOUISVILLE.

WHY IS LOUISVILLE SO WELL POSITIONED TO BE HOME TO THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SO WHENEVER WE RECENTLY GOT THE C-130Js.

We had C-130s BEFORE AND WE UPGRADED.

WE HAD TO COMPETE FOR THAT AIRCRAFT.

WE HAD TO MAKE OUR CASE AND COMPETE FOR WHY LOUISVILLE IS A GREAT PLACE TO HAVE THE C-130J.

AS WE LOOKED AT IT, THE SAME REASONS LOUISVILLE IS A GREAT PLACE FOR UPS TO SET UP THEIR WORLD PORT IS THE SAME REASONS THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO HAVE AIRLIFT HUB.

THAT IS LOUISVILLE IS GENERALLY BELOW THE FREEZING LINE.

WE DON'T GET A LOT OF MAJOR ICE STORMS.

BUT WE ARE ALSO NORTH AND WEST OF THE HURRICANE THREAT, BUT WE ARE STILL WITHIN A COUPLE HOUR FLIGHT TO MOST OF THE POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

SO GEOGRAPHICALLY, LOUISVILLE IS SITUATED VERY WELL.

I WOULD SAY THE OTHER THING IS JUST THE PEOPLE.

LOOK AT THE INDUSTRIES THAT MAKE LOUISVILLE GREAT.

BOURBON, HORSE RACING APPLIANCES, BUILDING TRUCKS.

THAT'S ALL STUFF THAT TAKES A LOT OF HARD WORK.

I THINK YOU SEE THAT DNA OF THE CITY, IT BLEEDS OVER INTO OUR UNIT.

OUR UNIT IS MADE UP OF FOLKS FROM RIGHT HERE IN THE STATE, SOUTHERN INDIANA AND LOUISVILLE.

YOU SEE THAT DNA IN OUR FOLKS.

SO WHENEVER WE DEPLOY, NOBODY OUTWORKS A KENTUCKY GUARDSMAN AND WE HAVE BEEN REWARDED FOR IT.

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST HIGHLY DECORATED AIR FORCE UNITS, NOT JUST AIR NATIONAL GUARD UNITS BUT AIR FORCE UNITS, OVER 20 OUTSTANDING AIR FORCE UNIT AWARDS, WHICH IS UNMATCHED BY ANY OTHER TACTICAL AIRLIFT WING AND SINCE 9/11, THERE HAS ONLY BEEN 11 AIR FORCE CROSSES AWARDED, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST MEDAL FOR VALOR, SECOND ONLY TO THE MEDAL OF HONOR.

TWO OF THOSE 11 WERE GIVEN TO KENTUCKY GUARDSMEN THAT ARE IN THE SPECIAL TACTICS SQUADRON.

>> WOW, THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

>> IT IS.

IT IS.

>> SO YOU TALK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE A PART OF THE GUARD.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL, I COULD NEVER DO THAT, I COULD NEVER BE PART OF THE MILITARY.

IT SOUNDS DAUNTING TO MOST OF US CIVILIANS, BUT I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT REALLY, THE BREADTH OF CAREERS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IF YOU CAN THINK OF IT AS A PROFESSION, IT PROBABLY EXISTS IN THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD.

WE HAVE DENTISTS.

WE HAVE PHYSICIANS.

WE HAVE NURSES.

WE HAVE PARA RESCUE MEN, PILOTS, AIRCRAFT MECHANICS, JOURNALISTS.

IF YOU CAN THINK OF IT, IT PROBABLY EXISTS AS A PROFESSION IN THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT DIVERSE OPPORTUNITIES.

WE'LL PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH THAT TRAINING FOR FREE, THAT THEY CAN TAKE INTO THEIR CIVILIAN CAREERS THAT CAN BE LUCRATIVE FOR THEM.

THEY'RE ALSO ABLE TO GET IN-STATE TUITION PAID FOR, SO THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO COLLEGE FOR FOLKS.

THEN IF YOU STAY FOR 20 YEARS, YOU ARE LOOKING AT GETTING A RETIREMENT.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF ADVANTAGES THERE, A LOT OF DIFFERENT DIVERSE OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE GUARD.

>> HOW DOES IT DIFFER AND PLAY INTO ACTIVE DUTY?

>> YOU KNOW, IT DIFFERS IN TERMS OF-- YOU KNOW, IT DIFFERS IN THAT WE ARE CITIZEN SOLDIERS.

OF THE 1200 AIRMEN AT THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD, ABOUT 350 ARE FULL-TIME.

THE REST ARE WHAT WE CALL PART TIMERS OR DRILL STATUS GUARDSMEN AND THEY'RE GOING AND DOING THEIR CIVILIAN JOB MOST OF THE TIME AND THEN COMING IN AND DOING THE AIR GUARD THING UNTIL THEY GET CALLED UP FOR DEPLOYMENT, WHICH IN A LOT OF WAYS, I FEEL LIKE MAKES US STRONGER THAN SOME OF THE ACTIVE DUTY UNITS BECAUSE WE GET FOLKS THAT COME IN WITH A TON OF EXPERIENCE FROM THE CIVILIAN SECTOR, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX AND GIVE US NEW AND IMPROVED WAYS TO DO OUR MISSION.

>> THAT'S SO INTERESTING.

WHAT ARE THE TYPE OF PEOPLE, WHAT KIND OF QUALITIES DO YOU NEED TO BE IN THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD.

>> YOU HAVE TO WANT TO SERVE.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU GOT TO WANT TO SERVE AND YOU GOT TO BE WILLING TO WORK HARD.

AT THE SAME TIME SOME OF THE INDUSTRIES WE TALKED ABOUT WHERE WE WORK HARD HERE IN THE STATE OF LOUISVILLE LIKE BOURBON AND HORSE RACING, WE ALSO HAVE A GOOD TIME WHILE WE DO IT.

SO YOU GOT TO BE WILLING TO DO BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I MEAN THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD REALLY IS A FAMILY.

I MEAN THAT BOTH IN THE LITERAL AND FIGURATIVE WAY.

WE HAVE BROTHERS, SISTERS, SPOUSES, SOME FOLKS ARE SECOND AND THIRD GENERATION KENTUCKY AIR GUARDSMEN.

BUT ALSO YOU DEVELOP AS A FAMILY AND LIKE I SAID, SOME FOLKS WILL SERVE FOR 40 YEARS IN THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD, AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DEPLOYING TO AUSTERE LOCATIONS AND SPENDING A LOT OF TIME WITH EACH OTHER, YOU START TO BECOME LIKE A FAMILY.

IT'S A VERY DIVERSE FAMILY.

WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM ALL DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, RACES, DIFFERENT RELIGIONS, FROM DIFFERENT SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS AND THEY ALL COME TOGETHER TO MAKE A FANTASTIC UNIT.

AND THEY HAVE ALL GOT ONE THING IN COMMON AND THAT'S THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE THE STATE AND THE UNITED STATES.

>> AND BESIDES YOUR GUARD FAMILY, YOUR FAMILY PERSONALLY, AND YOU MENTIONED THIS A LITTLE BIT BEFORE ABOUT HOW THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD HAS AFFECTED YOUR FAMILY PERSONALLY IN JUST BEING A PART OF THAT COMMUNITY.

>> YEAH, IT IS A COMMUNITY, AND WHENEVER WE DEPLOY, OUR FAMILIES HELP TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.

I DON'T SEE WHAT I DO AS A SACRIFICE.

I LOVE GOING OUT AND FLYING AIRPLANES.

I HAVE GOTTEN TO TRAVEL ALL OVER THE WORLD JUST SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THE KENTUCKY GUARD, I HAVE BEEN TO FIVE DIFFERENT CONTINENTS, AND I'VE LOST COUNT OF ALL THE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES I'VE BEEN THERE.

SO I LOVE WHAT I DO.

THE REAL SACRIFICE COMES FROM OUR FAMILIES.

THEY HAVE TO MAKE THINGS WORK AT HOME WHENEVER WE ARE NOT THERE.

BUT FOR US, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MY FAMILY HAS BEEN WILLING TO DO AND THEY LOVE SERVING JUST AS MUCH AS I DO.

>> AND THEY'RE HELPED BY THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE GUARD.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

SO LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, WHENEVER WE DEPLOYED FROM LOUISVILLE, THOSE TWO DEPLOYMENTS WERE VERY DIFFERENT FROM ACTIVE DUTY DEPLOYMENTS IN THAT YOU KNOW, THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE CHURCH, THE SCHOOL, THEY REALLY CAME TO SUPPORT MY FAMILY AND WE FELT LESS ON AN ISLAND WHENEVER I WAS DEPLOYED.

>> WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR YOU IN THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD?

>> I WOULD SAY THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS BALANCING BOTH MY JOBS, SO I FLY FOR CIVILIAN COMPANY HERE IN LOUISVILLE.

AND THEN I'M ALSO FLYING AT THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD.

SO FOR ME, IT'S OPERATING TWO AIRCRAFT, TRYING TO DECONFLICT MY SCHEDULE.

BUT I WILL SAY THAT HERE IN THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE, WE HAVE OUTSTANDING CIVILIAN EMPLOYERS.

THEY'RE WILLING TO HELP OUT OUR FOLKS.

THEY'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH THEM ON SCHEDULING TO GET THEM OUT.

SO WHILE IT IS A CHALLENGE, I WOULD SAY IT'S A HUGE ADVANTAGE HERE IN LOUISVILLE WITH OUR EMPLOYERS WILLING TO SUPPORT US.

>> AND THEN WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT SERVING?

>> I WOULD SAY MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT SERVING IS GETTING OUT ON THE ROAD WITH THE AIR CREWS.

I STILL LOVE TO GO TAKE THE C-130, FLY TO SOME PLACE I'VE NEVER BEEN BEFORE AND THEN HANG OUT WITH THE CREW WHILE WE ARE ON THE ROAD.

THAT'S PROBABLY THE BEST PART.

>> TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT ALL OF THESE MISSIONS HAS ON YOU AS A PERSON?

>> I MEAN, IT'S INCREDIBLE TO LAND THE C-130 SOMEWHERE AND DELIVER CARGO OR PERSONNEL THAT SOMEONE ELSE IS WAITING FOR.

THERE IS NOTHING THAT MATCHES THAT FEELING OF BRINGING SOMETHING TO SOMEONE WHO BRINGS IT, AND THAT'S A HUGE PART OF THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD IS HELPING THOSE IN NEED AND GETTING TO SERVE THEM.

AND SO, YEAH, I WOULD SAY THAT'S-- WE GET JUST AS MUCH OUT OF THE JOB AS FOLKS GET FROM US WHENEVER WE BRING IN SUPPLIES OR PERSONNEL.

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THANKS FOR SPENDING A LITTLE TIME GETTING TO KNOW LOUISVILLE THIS WEEK.

HOPE TO SEE YOU HERE NEXT TIME.

UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK.

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