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MANG's New Mission Has Value to State's Units

By Charlie Keegan

Story Created: Feb 6, 2012 at 7:25 PM MDT

Story Updated: Feb 6, 2012 at 7:25 PM MDT

On Friday U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester made it official announcing that the Montana Air National Guard will be receiving eight new cargo planes. The new mission with the C-130 airplanes will be a lot different than the F-15s currently flying over Great Falls.

The C-130s are the work horses of the air and carry supplies and troops anywhere they're needed, while the F-15s specialize in air to air combat.

The Montana National Guard has two quick response teams made up of airmen and soldiers. Officials say having the transport planes in the state will help those teams access areas of need faster. “A platform like the C-130 allows for a very quick response time to get those airmen and soldiers across the state to where ever the emergency is. And not only themselves, but the equipment they may need to help the citizens across the state,” says Maj. Tim Crowe, public affairs officer for the Montana National Guard.

Officials are still awaiting word on how the move is engineered, and how it will affect the number of people serving in the Montana Air National Guard.

The cargo planes are scheduled to arrive in 2014.

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