A U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon fighter jet assigned to the 119th Fighter Squadron, bearing a new “Jersey Jerk” tail flash design, touched down at the 177th Fighter Wing Air National Guard base, Dec. 5, 2024. The aircraft will serve as a dedicated flagship for the 119th FS, leading the charge during major operations. The aircraft is dedicated to U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Donald Strait, a retired commander of the New Jersey Air National Guard (NJANG), who flew a P-47 Thunderbolt and a P-51 Mustang of the same name, the “Jersey Jerk.” (U.S. Air National Guard video by Airman 1st Class Connor Taggart) (The music contained in this video is sourced from nickpanek620 under a Pixabay content license.)
More than 1,500 Soldiers of the New Jersey Army National Guard returned to their loved ones between Thanksgiving week and December 22, 2024, ending a harrowing year of the 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s overseas deployment in Iraq, Syria and Kuwait.
