MILWAUKEE — The year 2024 is a big one for the 128th Air Refueling Wing, a unit of the Wisconsin Air National Guard stationed at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.
The 128th Air Refueling Wing does aerial refueling for the U.S. Air Force, Navy and NATO aircraft. It also does various flying missions, prepares for deployment, performs aeromedical evacuations, and airlifts cargo and forces.
What You Need To Know
- The 128th Air Refueling Wing does aerial refueling for the U.S. Air Force, Navy and NATO aircraft
- According to Colonel Charles Merkel, deputy commander of the 128th Air Refueling Wing, "Wisconsin is an important state right now"
- Merkel said he is also in close communication with federal agents about the upcoming Republican National Convention. He’s been having monthly meetings with the United States Secret Service
- The Wisconsin Air National Guard has been preparing for nearly a year for the event, which is expected to bring more than 50,000 delegates, media, law enforcement, staff and visitors to Milwaukee
In addition to those duties and daily operations, the 128th Air Refueling Wing also helps with visits of political figures associated with the U.S. Government, including President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris.
And because Wisconsin is a swing state, there are a lot of visits this year.
“Wisconsin is an important state right now,” said Colonel Charles Merkel, deputy commander of the 128th Air Refueling Wing. “The number of visits has increased. If we get the call from the Secret Service, we will usually drop what we are doing and give them what they need to the maximum extent possible.”
Merkel said he is also in close communication with federal agents about the upcoming Republican National Convention. He’s been having monthly meetings with the United States Secret Service.
The Wisconsin Air National Guard has been preparing for nearly a year for the event, which is expected to bring more than 50,000 delegates, media, law enforcement, staff and visitors to Milwaukee.
The Wisconsin Air National Guard and 128th Air Refueling Wing will be assisting with increased air traffic for the RNC and providing a place for many FBI and Secret Service agents to stay while in town.
“It’s important to us,” Merkel said. “We always talk about our two missions, our state mission and federal mission. That’s something that we can offer, a secure location that we bed down people and host whoever needs to come into a base like ours.”
During the RNC, which runs from July 15-18, the 128th Refueling Wing will be keeping many of its aircraft and equipment at Volk Field Air National Guard Base in Juneau County in order to make room for more visitors.
This busy political season comes as Milwaukee’s 128th Air Refueling Wing is preparing for an expansion. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is removing its eastern-most runway so the refueling wing can have more space.
Merkel said he believes the expansion will be a benefit, as the 128th Refueling Wing remains under consideration to house the new KC-46A Pegasus air tankers from the U.S. Air Force. There are 15 military bases across the country that are in the running.
“There’s lots of stuff going on here and we are excited about the future,” Merkel said. “We want to make sure that we keep a flying mission here. We want to make sure that the City of Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin keeps their Air National Guard bases.”