Warfield Air National Guard Base - Overview

Overview

Martin State Airport, MD, is home to the 175th Wing of the Maryland Air National Guard, itself composed of the 135th Airlift Group and the 175th Wing. Nearly 1,500 full-time and traditional members are employed by the Maryland Air National Guard, contributing $76 million dollars annually to Maryland's economy.

The 175th Wing has state and federal missions to augment active forces and provide assistance to state authorities during natural disasters, civil disturbances and other emergencies. In peacetime, the 175th Wing prepares for wartime taskings, natural catastrophes, and major civilian accidents by participating in various deployments and exercises. The unit must maintain the capability to meet mobility standards and worldwide deployment when directed by competent authority.

The 175th Wing consists of two distinct flying units with different missions-the 104th Fighter Squadron, flying the A-10 Thunderbolt II single-seat jet and the 135th Airlift Squadron, which previously operated the C-130J Hercules transport aircraft and currently operates the C-27J Spartan transport aircraft.

In its 2005 BRAC Recommendations, DoD recommended to deactivate the 111th Fighter Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard and relocate some of its assigned A-10 aircraft to the 175th Wing (ANG), Martin State Airport Air Guard Station, Baltimore, MD. This recommendation was part of a larger recommendation that would close NAS JRB Willow Grove, PA. DoD claimed that this recommendation would enable Air Force Future Total Force transformation by consolidating the A-10 fleet at installations of higher military value.

BRAC 2005 also saw the C-130J aircraft of the 175th Wing being transferred to the 146th Airlift Wing of the California Air National Guard at Channel Islands AGS, CA (four aircraft), and the 143rd Airlift Wing of the Rhode Island Air National Guard at Quonset State Airport AGS, RI (four aircraft). In 2011, the first C-27J Spartan light transport was received.