Oct 14, 2026 · 21 min · 7 segments
✈️ What does it take to become part of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard? Find out in our newest episode! We’re joined by **Senior Master Sgt. Meghan Hoover and Chief Master Sgt. Kristin Graby**…
Angela WatsonHost
Um, when you're speaking with, uh, young people out there, maybe some not so young people that would like to join.
Um, you know, I think when you think, uh, Air Force or Air National Guard, you think pilot, you think flying, you think all of that.
Um, but our mission here in PA as the PA Air National Guard is really quite large and doesn't always translate to flying a, a plane or anything like that.
Can you describe a little bit about what our mission here is in the Pennsylvania National Guard or Air National Guard?
So, you know, we have the 193rd Special Operations Wing, uh, in Middletown, and then you have the 171st Air Refueling Wing in Pittsburgh.
Um, and then you have the 111th Attack Wing in Philadelphia, and then we also have some geographically separated units as well in State College, uh, Fort Indiantown Gap here, and then also in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
So the one unique thing about Pennsylvania is that depending on where you wanna serve, you know, you'll be able to do something different.
Yes, we all have the aircraft or the MQ-9 mission at the 111th, but you'll be able to pick anything from medical, uh, aircraft maintenance, uh, tactical air control party, uh, explosive ordinance, and those are all things that our recruiters are highly skilled at making sure that they go into the right career field that's gonna be beneficial for them and that they really enjoy.
Th- a- and I, I think that as a recruiter is part of what, and I'm sure as a mom too, it kinda sits in the back of your head, you know, as you get older and your kids get older, and then you're guiding kids in making a final decision on their life.
So, um, how important is it for you to make sure that you're, you're putting them in the r- in the right place that they're comfortable in, and that their family is comfortable with them in?
So we, we take that into account a lot, and, and people are pretty upfront with us, you know? [chuckles]
So we may have somebody who's interested in a specific job, you know, and we only offer that, that in Pittsburgh.
Um, when you're speaking with, uh, young people out there, maybe some not so young people that would like to join.
Um, you know, I think when you think, uh, Air Force or Air National Guard, you think pilot, you think flying, you think all of that.
Um, but our mission here in PA as the PA Air National Guard is really quite large and doesn't always translate to flying a, a plane or anything like that.
Can you describe a little bit about what our mission here is in the Pennsylvania National Guard or Air National Guard?
So, you know, we have the 193rd Special Operations Wing, uh, in Middletown, and then you have the 171st Air Refueling Wing in Pittsburgh.
Um, and then you have the 111th Attack Wing in Philadelphia, and then we also have some geographically separated units as well in State College, uh, Fort Indiantown Gap here, and then also in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
So the one unique thing about Pennsylvania is that depending on where you wanna serve, you know, you'll be able to do something different.
Yes, we all have the aircraft or the MQ-9 mission at the 111th, but you'll be able to pick anything from medical, uh, aircraft maintenance, uh, tactical air control party, uh, explosive ordinance, and those are all things that our recruiters are highly skilled at making sure that they go into the right career field that's gonna be beneficial for them and that they really enjoy.
Th- a- and I, I think that as a recruiter is part of what, and I'm sure as a mom too, it kinda sits in the back of your head, you know, as you get older and your kids get older, and then you're guiding kids in making a final decision on their life.
So, um, how important is it for you to make sure that you're, you're putting them in the r- in the right place that they're comfortable in, and that their family is comfortable with them in?
So we, we take that into account a lot, and, and people are pretty upfront with us, you know? [chuckles]
So we may have somebody who's interested in a specific job, you know, and we only offer that, that in Pittsburgh.
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