About Us

Welcome to the 117th Air Refueling Wing located at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham, Ala. The 117 ARW can trace its roots back to a World War I era flying club. The Birmingham Flying Club, also known as the Escadrille's, was the seventh federally recognized flying squadron on January 21, 1922 by the United States War Department.

The 117 ARW flies the Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker. We train and equip combat ready aircrews and support personnel to perform worldwide aerial refueling and airlift missions. Combat ready civil engineering, support services, medical, personnel, communications and intelligence technical support UTCs are available for worldwide assignment. Our unit supports state and local contingencies when directed by the Governor of Alabama.

Financial News: Parents did you know you no longer estimate income on the

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)? Applicants now use

"prior-prior-year" information from tax returns that have already been filed

- for example, the 2016 tax return will be used for the 2018-19 school year.

A copy of the FAFSA Calendar is given below.

FAFSA Calendar

Academic Year FAFSA Application Season Base Year

for Income

7/1/2016 to 6/30/2017 1/1/2016 to 6/30/2017 2015

7/1/2017 to 6/30/2018 10/1/2016 to 6/30/2018 2015

7/1/2018 to 6/30/2019 10/1/2017 to 6/30/2019 2016

Source: Cappex.com

Lisa J. Gamble, AFCR, MBA, RICPR

Personal Financial Counselor

Cell: 205-612-7316

Email: PFC.AL.NG@zeiders.com

When Air National Guard units are not mobilized or under federal control, they report to the governor of their respective state, territory (Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands) or the commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard. Each of the 54 National Guard organizations is supervised by the adjutant general of the state or territory. Under state law, the Air National Guard provides protection of life, property and preserves peace, order and public safety. These missions are accomplished through emergency relief support during natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and forest fires; search and rescue operations; support to civil defense authorities; maintenance of vital public services and counterdrug operations.

The Air National Guard's federal mission is to maintain well-trained, well-equipped units available for prompt mobilization during war and provide assistance during national emergencies (such as natural disasters or civil disturbances). During peacetime, the combat-ready units and support units are assigned to most Air Force major commands to carry out missions compatible with training, mobilization readiness, humanitarian and contingency operations such as Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

The 117th Airman and Family Readiness Program supports all military personnel and their families.

Program Manager: Mrs. Joy Miller
Email: joy.a.miller16.civ@mail.mil
Commercial: (205) 714-2699
DSN: 778-2699

Information of the Installation Restoration Program is available to the public in the central library government records in Birmingham, Alabama.

The goal of See and Avoid is to eliminate midair collisions and reduce close calls through proper flight planning. See and Avoid promotes information exchange between civilian pilots and the military flight safety community. For more information go to www.seeandavoid.org