FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / MEDIA ADVISORY

MERIDIAN, Miss. – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker is scheduled to tour the Mississippi National Guard’s 186th Air Refueling Wing at Key Field Air National Guard Base in Meridian, Thursday, January 12 starting at 9:30 a.m. Wicker will tour the existing infrastructure ready and available to house the U.S. Air Force’s most advanced aerial refueling tanker, the KC-46 Pegasus, as the Air Force continues to modernize its tanker inventory.

Key Field, the birthplace and home of aerial refueling, is ready to receive the new aircraft replacing the KC-135 Stratotanker and is also one of the few hangars in the entire Air National Guard that can hold two KC-135s or house the KC-46 with no significant modifications – a substantial cost savings to the U.S. Air Force.

Key Field is the optimal location to launch Air National Guard resources in support of homeland defense, response to natural disasters, multiple training exercises, and Joint Force missions.

Key Field’s exemplary amenities have served the Air National Guard, formally the Army Air Corps, for over 80 years, earning the first ever “outstanding” rating among all Air National Guard refueling units, and has been nominated for two Collier Awards, second only to the International Space Station.

Wicker’s visit amplifies the confidence and trust he has for the Mississippi Air National Guard’s mission proficiency and technical expertise in serving as a key component for the Air Force’s advancement.

The Mississippi National Guard Soldiers and Airmen continue to serve with honor and integrity in diverse missions throughout our state and nation. We are Always Ready, Always There.

MEDIA CREDENTIALING:

Media representatives are invited to attend and must coordinate attendance by submitting FULL NAME, AFFILIATE, EMAIL, and PHONE NUMBER to the Mississippi National Guard Director of Public Affairs, Lt. Col. Deidre D. Smith at 601-919-5668 and by email at ng.ms.msarng.list.public-affairs@army.mil. Confirmed media must arrive at Key Field’s front gate no later than 9:00 a.m. Thursday, January 12, to receive media escort. Thank you for your continued support of the Mississippi National Guard.  

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