Hawaii National Guard Day at the State Capitol

April 12, 2012 admin

The Hawaii National Guard put some of their wares on display at the State Capitol to inform legislators and the public on their role in the community. The National Guard is responsible for the state’s national defense, security and offers aid during many natural and possible man made disasters.

Pictured here are two soldiers and a surveillance drone aircraft the guard uses. The remote control plane has a very sophisticated and expensive camera mounted underneath it. The aircraft can fly as high as 15,000 feet.

The Hawaii Army National Guard and the Hawaii Air National Guard is part of the State’s Department of Defense.

Governor Neil Abercrombie stopped by to inspect the hardware and talk to some of the troops. The Governor is the civilian official in charge of the Hawaii National Guard.

Medical unit vehicle can evacuate the wounded on the front or for disaster relief.

This is a model of the F22 Raptor tactical fighter jet that the National Guard uses to patrol Hawaii skies. There are currently 14 Raptors in the Hawaii Air National Guard fleet. There is an apparent defect with the plane’s oxygen system that currently prohibits its use in long distance over the ocean flight. The aircraft has not been used in combat, but is combat ready.

Remote command communications vehicle offers the guard high speed voice and data communications using various high tech platforms such as laptop computers, wifi and satellite phones.