Alabama Air National Guard

Alabama Air National Guard
106th Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker, Birmingham IAP. The 106th is the oldest unit in the Alabama Air National Guard, having over 90 years of service to the state and nation
Active	21 January 1922 – present
Country	United States
Allegiance	United States  Alabama
Branch	United States Air Force   Air National Guard
Role	"Provides mission ready forces to the federal government and the Governor of Alabama, while providing assistance to the citizens and civil authorities during natural disasters or emergencies under the command of the Adjutant General."
Part of	Alabama Military Department United States National Guard Bureau
Garrison/HQ	JFHQ-AL, 1720 Cong. W. L. Dickinson Dr., Montgomery, AL 36109
Motto(s)	"Always Ready, Always There"
Commanders
Civilian leadership	President Donald Trump (Commander-in-Chief) Deborah Lee James (Secretary of the Air Force) Governor Robert Bentley (Governor of the State of Alabama)
State military leadership	Major General Perry Smith
State military leadership	Brigadier General Steven Berryhill
Insignia
Shield of the Alabama Air National Guard
Aircraft flown
Fighter	F-16C Fighting Falcon
Reconnaissance	RC-26B
Tanker	KC-135R Stratotanker

The Alabama Air National Guard (AL ANG) is the air force militia of the State of Alabama, United States of America. It is, along with the Alabama Army National Guard, an element of the Alabama National Guard.

As state militia units, the units in the Alabama Air National Guard are not in the normal United States Air Force chain of command unless federalized. They are under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Alabama though the office of the Alabama Adjutant General unless they are federalized by order of the President of the United States. The Alabama Air National Guard is headquartered in Montgomery, and its commander is Major General Perry Smith.

Under the "Total Force" concept, Alabama Air National Guard units are considered to be Air Reserve Components (ARC) of the United States Air Force (USAF). Alabama ANG units are trained and equipped by the Air Force and are operationally gained by a Major Command of the USAF if federalized. In addition, the Alabama Air National Guard forces are assigned to Air Expeditionary Forces and are subject to deployment tasking orders along with their active duty and Air Force Reserve counterparts in their assigned cycle deployment window.

Along with their federal reserve obligations, as state militia units the elements of the Alabama ANG are subject to being activated by order of the governor to provide protection of life and property, and preserve peace, order and public safety. State missions include disaster relief in times of earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and forest fires, search and rescue, protection of vital public services, and support to civil defense.

The Alabama Air National Guard consists of the following major units:

The Alabama Air National Guard origins date to 27 August 1917 with the establishment of the 106th Aero Squadron as part of the World War I American Expeditionary Force. The 106th served in France on the Western Front, then after the 1918 Armistice with Germany was demobilized in 1919.