PEORIA, Ill. – A portion of what makes up Peoria’s contingent in the Air National Guard – the 182 Airlift Wing – is being decommissioned.
The Illinois National Guard says as part of national level changes, the Tactical Air Control Party Group, and the 566th Air Force band will be decommissioned.
The changes affect 210 airmen.
The Air Force announced in late 2021 it’s reducing the number of TACP airmen by 50 percent by the end of the 2025 Fiscal Year, in part, because of changes in technology.
“As leaders, we never want to lose units,” said Maj. Gen. Rich Neely, the Adjutant General of Illinois and Commander of the Illinois National Guard, in a news release. “However, the U.S. Air Force is making these changes as the threats against the U.S. change. We must adapt to stay relevant into the future. I remain committed to ensure every one of our Airmen will have an opportunity to cross train into new missions as we modernize to remain relevant as the Illinois National Guard.”
The Illinois Air National Guard says it will work hard to retain every airman in the units being decommissioned.
