Sears receives Bronze Star, Purple Heart

New Jersey Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Michael Sears, left, is awarded the Bronze Star by Brig. Gen. Michael L. Cunniff, the adjutant general, at a ceremony April 17, 2013, at the State House in Trenton, N.J. On a single combat patrol in Afghanistan, Sears, an explosive ordnance disposal technician with the 177th Fighter Wing, defused two improvised explosive devices and made five trips across open terrain under heavy enemy fire to aid a wounded coalition soldier and to engage insurgent forces. Sears suffered shoulder injury and expended more than 190 rounds from his M4 rifle during the firefight. He was also awarded the Purple Heart. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released)

177FW - NJ ANG Fire Chief Retires after over 40 years of Service

Chief Master Sgt. Dominick Galione speaks to a group of friends and family upon his retirement as a NJ State employee with the Fire Department at the 177th Fighter Wing - NJ Air National Guard on April 13, 2013. Galione served the U.S. Air Force in several capacities for over 40 years. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Andrew J. Moseley/Released)

Honorary pilot for a day at the 177th Fighter Wing

Huw Bradwell, honorary pilot for a day, gives a thumbs up as he tries on aircrew life support equipment during his visit to the 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard, in Egg Harbor Township, N.J., April 16, 2013. (Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Andrew J. Moseley)

Honorary pilot for a day at the 177th Fighter Wing

Senior Master Sgt. Jason Gioconda shows Huw Bradwell, honorary pilot for a day, aircrew life support equipment during his visit the 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard, in Egg Harbor Township, N.J., April 16, 2013. (Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Andrew J. Moseley)

Hard work

Tech. Sgt. Brian Clark finished the 364th Training Squadron's Electrical and Environmental Systems course with a 100 percent grade average March 29, 2013. The ACE award is the highest award given during technical training. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)

Night Vipers

U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Jymal Cruse does a pre-flight inspection on an F-16C Viper at Atlantic City International Airport, N.J. on Jan 23. Cruse is a crew chief assigned to the 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht

Night Vipers

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jeffrey Montemurro removes a ladder from an F-16C Viper piloted by Captain Keith Graham at Atlantic City International Airport, N.J. on Jan 23. Pilots and Airmen from the 177th Fighter Wing braved low temperatures to perform night training operations. Montemurro is a crew chief from the 177th Fighter Wing, and Graham is a pilot assigned to the 119th Fighter Squadron, New Jersey Air National Guard. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht

Financing the Fight

Lt. Col. Ed Dagney, 177th Comptroller Flight Commander, poses in front of a Mine Resistant Anti-Personnel (MRAP) vehicle in Afghanistan. Courtesy photo.

177th Fighter Wing assists community in wake of Hurricane Sandy

Airmen from the 177th Fighter Wing conduct search and recovery operations on Long Beach Island, N.J., on Nov 1. The 177th Fighter Wing assisted local authorities in aiding members of the community displaced by Hurricane Sandy. U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht

177th Fighter Wing assists community in wake of Hurricane Sandy

Airmen from the 177th Fighter Wing conduct search and recovery operations on Long Beach Island, N.J., on Nov 1. The 177th Fighter Wing assisted local authorities in aiding members of the community displaced by Hurricane Sandy. U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht

Transit Center firefighters participate in construction collapse exercise

Left, Senior Airman Joshua Lupidi and Airman 1st Class Ashley Linney secure a simulated victim during a construction collapse exercise at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 28, 2012. The 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department participated in the exercise to stay proficient in their training. Both Lupidi and Linney are 376 ECES firefighters. Lupidi is deployed from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., and Linney is deployed from the 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brett Clashman)

Transit Center firefighters participate in construction collapse exercise

Left, Tech. Sgt. Jeff Tomczak and Senior Airman Joshua Lupidi look inside a simulated construction collapse site during an exercise at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 28, 2012. The 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department rescued two simulated victims during the exercise. Both Tomczak and Lupidi are 376 ECES Firefighters. Tomczak is deployed from the 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard and Lupidi is deployed from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brett Clashman)

Air Guard trains at Fort Drum

U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 227th Air Support Operations Squadron, New Jersey Air National Guard, train with weapons at Fort Drum, N.Y. on Aug 20. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht

Air Guard trains at Fort Drum

U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 227th Air Support Operations Squadron, New Jersey Air National Guard, recieve training on drop zone procedures at Fort Drum, N.Y. on Aug 20. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht

TCM, Kyrgyz fire department train to save lives

Right, Senior Airman Kenneth Merlock operates a hydraulic cutter tool to cut part of a vehicle while Senior Airman Frank Abac observes during a auto-extraction exchange at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Aug. 29, 2012. The cutter tool is one of many tools fire fighters use to extract pinned or trapped victims involved in a vehicular incident. Merlock is deployed out of 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard and a native of Atlantic City, N.J. Abac is a 376 ECES fire fighter deployed out of Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska and a native of Chicago. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brett Clashman)

Tech. Sgt. Neal Esplin, 177th Medical Group, New Jersey Air National Guard, provides dental care to an Alabama resident at a Selma medical clinic during the Innovative Readiness Training mission Alabama Care 2012 in Selma, Ala. Aug. 8, 2012.

Tech. Sgt. Neal Esplin, 177th Medical Group, New Jersey Air National Guard, provides dental care to an Alabama resident at a Selma medical clinic during the Innovative Readiness Training mission Alabama Care 2012 in Selma, Ala. Aug. 8, 2012. IRT Alabama Care 2012 is an Air National Guard led, multiservice mission comprised of active, reserve, and National Guard members from Army, Navy and Air Force components providing service members with readiness training while providing Alabama residents with free health services such as dental, optometry and medical screenings in the medically underserved and economically depressed community of Selma, Ala. Aug. 7-14, 2012. (National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Melissa E. Chatham/RELEASED)

Civil Air Patrol visits 177th Fighter Wing

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ethan Hugg, a Joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) helps some Civil Air Patrol Cadets from the Cumberland Composite Squadron, NJ into his body armor at 177th Fighter Wing on June 26. Hugg is a New Jersey Air National Guardsman assigned to the 227th Air Support Operations Squadron. The 177th Fighter Wing is located at Atlantic City International Airport, NJ. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht

Air National Guard base tour wows students

U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Matthew Sinton educates a second grade student from Atlantic Christian School on the inner workings of an F-16C Fighting Falcon at Atlantic City International Airport, NJ on June 14. The students were visiting the 177th, part of the New Jersey Air National Guard, for a base tour. Sinton is an F-16C crew chief assigned to the 177th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht

Exercise held at 177th Fighter Wing

Tech. Sgt. David Niedzwiadek, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician checks an ANDROS F6A Explosive Ordnance Disposal robot during an exercise at the 177th Fighter Wing June 6, 2012. Airmen from the 177th along with New Jersey National Guard Soldiers and Airmen of the 21st Civil Support Team (Weapons of Mass Destruction), South Jersey Transit Authority firefighters and New Jersey State Police responded to a simulated weapons of mass destruction incident. Members of the 177th Explosive Ordnance Disposal team worked with the 21st CST in reacting to a simulated explosion on base. The 21st CST supports civil authorities by responding to a weapons of mass destruction (WMD) situation. The unit is made up of full-time New Jersey Army and Air National Guard members that have been trained and equipped to provide support to civil authorities at a domestic chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high‐explosive (CBRNE) incident site by identifying CBRNE agents/substances, assessing current and projected consequences and advising on response measures and assisting with appropriate requests for state support. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen

Exercise held at 177th Fighter Wing

Tech. Sgt. David Niedzwiadek, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician checks an ANDROS F6A Explosive Ordnance Disposal robot during an exercise at the 177th Fighter Wing June 6, 2012. Airmen from the 177th along with New Jersey National Guard Soldiers and Airmen of the 21st Civil Support Team (Weapons of Mass Destruction), South Jersey Transit Authority firefighters and New Jersey State Police responded to a simulated weapons of mass destruction incident. Members of the 177th Explosive Ordnance Disposal team worked with the 21st CST in reacting to a simulated explosion on base. The 21st CST supports civil authorities by responding to a weapons of mass destruction (WMD) situation. The unit is made up of full-time New Jersey Army and Air National Guard members that have been trained and equipped to provide support to civil authorities at a domestic chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high‐explosive (CBRNE) incident site by identifying CBRNE agents/substances, assessing current and projected consequences and advising on response measures and assisting with appropriate requests for state support. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen

Exercise held at 177th Fighter Wing

Explosive Ordnance Disposal non-commissioned officer in charge Master Sgt. Ed Nickel loads an ANDROS F6A Explosive Ordnance Disposal robot during an exercise at the 177th Fighter Wing June 6, 2012. Airmen from the 177th along with New Jersey National Guard Soldiers and Airmen of the 21st Civil Support Team (Weapons of Mass Destruction), South Jersey Transit Authority firefighters and New Jersey State Police responded to a simulated weapons of mass destruction incident. Members of the 177th Explosive Ordnance Disposal team worked with the 21st CST in reacting to a simulated explosion on base. The 21st CST supports civil authorities by responding to a weapons of mass destruction (WMD) situation. The unit is made up of full-time New Jersey Army and Air National Guard members that have been trained and equipped to provide support to civil authorities at a domestic chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high‐explosive (CBRNE) incident site by identifying CBRNE agents/substances, assessing current and projected consequences and advising on response measures and assisting with appropriate requests for state support. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen

Exercise held at 177th Fighter Wing

Explosive Ordnance Disposal non-commissioned officer in charge Master Sgt. Ed Nickel, left, pauses while loading an ANDROS F6A Explosive Ordnance Disposal robot to answer a question from Maj. Scott Hofstetter, deputy commander, 21st Civil Support Team (Weapons of Mass Destruction), New Jersey National Guard, during an exercise at the 177th Fighter Wing June 6, 2012. Airmen from the 177th along with New Jersey National Guard Soldiers and Airmen of the 21st Civil Support Team (Weapons of Mass Destruction), South Jersey Transit Authority firefighters and New Jersey State Police responded to a simulated weapons of mass destruction incident. Members of the 177th Explosive Ordnance Disposal team worked with the 21st CST in reacting to a simulated explosion on base. The 21st CST supports civil authorities by responding to a weapons of mass destruction (WMD) situation. The unit is made up of full-time New Jersey Army and Air National Guard members that have been trained and equipped to provide support to civil authorities at a domestic chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high‐explosive (CBRNE) incident site by identifying CBRNE agents/substances, assessing current and projected consequences and advising on response measures and assisting with appropriate requests for state support. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen

Kennedy is new Maintenance Group commander

Airmen of the 177th Fighter Wing Maintenance Group stand at parade rest during the Change of Command ceremony April 22, 2012. Col. Kerry M. Gentry, commander of the 177th Fighter Wing and former 177th Maintenance Group commander turned over the Maintenance Group command to Col. Patrick M. Kennedy. The 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard, is located at Egg Harbor Township, N.J. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen

Alder Middle School shows military pride

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Tina Fryling from the 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard, discusses her recent deployment to Afghanistan with students at Alder Middle School in Egg Harbor Township, NJ on May 23. Alder Middle school showed it's pride and patriotism by inviting military members to display work equipment and memorabilia and to share stories with students. U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht