Air Force
New Jersey Air National Guard activates new refueling squadron to fly KC-46 Pegasus
Stars and Stripes
March 12, 2024
The guidon for the Air National Guard’s newest tanker squadron is revealed March 7, 2024, during the 170th assumption of command ceremony at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (Anna-kay Ellis/U.S. Air Force)
The New Jersey Air National Guard has a new refueling unit to fly the KC-46 Pegasus tanker.
The 108th Wing’s 170th Air Refueling Squadron was activated during a ceremony Thursday at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, according to a 108th Wing news release. During the ceremony, Lt. Col. Matthew J. Secko assumed command as the squadron’s first commander.
“It is a privilege and an honor to start this squadron,” Secko said during the ceremony. “Our first members bring talents and experience to the squadron from many backgrounds, and they will each make a difference.”
The 170th Air Refueling Squadron takes its numeric designation from the 170th Air Refueling Group, which was established in New Jersey in 1956 and was consolidated with the 108th Air Refueling Wing in 1993, according to an Air Force fact sheet. The 170th Group was reactivated in 2007 as part of the Nebraska Air National Guard and is currently based at Offutt Air Force Base.
Lt. Col. Matthew Secko, 170th Air Refueling Squadron commander, at right, receives the unit guidon from Col. William Liess, 108th Operations Group commander, at left, during the 170th assumption of command ceremony Thursday, March 7, 2024, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Secko is the first commander for the newly activated 170th Air Refueling Squadron. (Anna-kay Ellis/U.S. Air Force)
The new squadron includes nearly 60 citizen airmen and will perform aerial refueling missions alongside the 108th Wing’s 141st Air Refueling Squadron and in association with the active-duty 305th Air Mobility Wing, according to the news release.
The 70th and 141st squadrons will operate the KC-46, which will gradually replace the aging KC-135 Stratotanker. The 141st Air Refueling Squadron flew its first KC-46 sortie in October.
“There were countless individuals involved with getting the unit to this point of activation,” 108th Operations Group Commander, Col. William A. Liess said. “Now we have a tremendous opportunity to serve our state and nation with the Air National Guard’s newest squadron and its newest tanker aircraft.”
The unit patch for the Air National Guard’s newest tanker squadron is revealed during the 170th assumption of command ceremony Thursday, March 7, 2024, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (Anna-kay Ellis/U.S. Air Force)
Also during the ceremony, the 70th Air Refueling Squadron’s patch and guidon were revealed. The patch design was selected during a wing-wide contest from nine submissions and features a knight holding a sword and shield emblazed with a lion and three stars.
The ultramarine blue and yellow are the Air Force’s colors, representing the sky and sun, respectively, according to an Air National Guard graphic explaining the design. The knight represents “the ancient chivalric traditions of honor, and courage,” while his red breastplate and plume symbolize passion and willpower, according to the graphic. Three cuts on the globe represent New Jersey’s status as the third state in the union.
The guidon for the Air National Guard’s newest tanker squadron is revealed during the 170th assumption of command ceremony Thursday, March 7, 2024, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (Anna-kay Ellis/U.S. Air Force)
Members of the 170th Air Refueling Wing receive their newly designed squadron patch from Lt. Col. Matthew Secko, 170th Air Refueling Squadron commander, during the 170th assumption of command ceremony Thursday, March 7, 2024, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (Anna-kay Ellis/U.S. Air Force)