January 25, 2004
TCS
Editor’s Note: TCS sent us this clarification on what to non-US readers may appear an odd assignment of fighters to air defense of the United States capital region in the post 9/11 period.
The 1st Fighter Wing, the nearest USAF fighter unit to Washington DC is a "regular" Air Force unit, not a National Guard unit. The primary responsibility for domestic defense
missions falls upon the National Guard. Regular US Military forces, permanently organized under federal authority, such as the 1st Fighter Wing, are generally prohibited from domestic roles by federal law.
The ANG 119FW (N.D.) maintains a permanent alert detachment at Langley AFB
and has for many years before September 11, 2001. It may seem odd that an
ANG unit based in North Dakota would permanently maintain two F-16 fighters
(with crew and pilots) at an AFB in Virginia, but that is the case. The mission of the 119 FW detachment at Langley is to be on alert at all times for continental air defense (NORAD).
Andrews is the base for the D.C. Air National Guard, which is home to the
113FW; a "dual tasked" general purpose ANG unit. The primary mission of the
113FW is training for air combat and operational airlift for national defense. As part of its "dual tasked" mission, the 113FW responds when called upon in the event of a natural disaster or civil emergency to protect the District of Columbia (being the National Guard Unit for D.C.).
However, unlike the 119FW detachment at Langley, the 113FW at Andrews is not
on permanent alert status for air defense missions. 119FW detachment at Langley can scramble two F-16s and have them airborne in under 10 minutes - that is their mission. 113FW may or may not have fighters, pilots, or crews available on any given moment's notice, unless they were given specific orders to be on alert status before hand.