121st Air Refueling Wing with patch.
A KC-135 Stratotankersits on the flight line during sunrise.

To continuously deliver worldwide Air-to-Air Refueling, Disaster Response and Combat Support.

Units

  • 121st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
  • 121st Civil Engineer Squadron
  • 121st Communications Flight
  • 121st Comptroller Flight
  • 121st Force Support Squadron
  • 121st Logistics Readiness Squadron
  • 121st Maintenance Group
  • 121st Maintenance Operations Flight

  • 121st Maintenance Squadron
  • 121st Medical Group
  • 121st Medical Group Det 1
  • 121st Mission Support Group
  • 121st Operations Group
  • 121st Operations Support Squadron
  • 121st Security Forces Squadron
  • 164th Weather Flight
  • 166th Air Refueling Squadron

Geographically Separated Units

  • Joint Force Headquarters
  • 220th Engineering Installation Squadron    

02.02.24 ~ OHANG  |  121ST

Airman hugs loved one.

Tech. Sgt. Wendy Kuhn / 121st Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

121st Airmen return from deployment

Airmen from the 121st Air Refueling Wing are welcomed home from an overseas deployment upon their return at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio, Feb. 2, 2024. The 121st Air Refueling Wing provides combat-ready Airmen to provide security and defense of the state and nation.

PHOTOS: 1, 2

11.11.22

Color guard carries flags in street.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Aven Santiago, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs

Celebrating November as National Veterans and Military Families Month

A color guard from the 121st Air Refueling Wing leads the Columbus Veterans Day Parade Nov. 10, 2022, in downtown Columbus, Ohio. Other Ohio National Guard parade support included a contingent of senior leaders presiding over events from the reviewing stand, music from the 122nd Army Band (pictured behind color guard), a procession of vehicles and Guard members from several Army and Air units and an F-16 flyover from the 180th Fighter Wing. Sponsored annually by MILVETS, the parade honors the service and sacrifice made by veterans, current service members and their families.

PHOTOS |  VIDEO

06.30.22

Man and female airman take measurment on aircraft.

Photo by Tech. Sgt. James Courtright, 121st Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

121st ARW helps 'shape' new standards for aviator career fields

The 121st Air Refueling Wing is the only National Guard unit that is part of an Air Force-wide study to modernize height and body composition standards for enlisted aviator career fields, something that has not been done in over 50 years.

STORY

02.22.22

Female Airman poses in uniform by tree.

Senior Airman Mikayla Gibbs, 121st Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

121st ARW Airman: A passion to serve

Serving others seems to be second nature for Staff Sgt. Cherelle Hines. She stands out in her community, and even though she was not looking for recognition, she recently received an award for her dedicated involvement.

STORY

08.27.21

Ohio Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Jordan Hopson in uniform.

Photo by Senior Airman Mikayla Gibbs, 121st Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

121st Airman is Ohio Air National Guard Recruiter of Year

Tech. Sgt. Jordan Hopson of the 121st Air Refueling Wing is the Ohio Air National Guard’s Recruiter of the Year, facilitating 79 enlistments in federal fiscal year 2020, the most in the entire Air National Guard. After being a member of the 121st Security Forces Squadron for the first five years of his career, he decided he wanted to become a recruiter so he could give back to the wing and to the ANG and help others share in some of the experiences and opportunities the Guard has given him, he said.

STORY

08.09.21

Technicians working on wing.

Photo by Senior Airman Mikayla Gibbs, 121st Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

121st ARW sheet metal technicians work to maintain KC-135s

Staff Sgt. Ethan Waymire, Airman 1st Class Carson Walker and Airman 1st Class Alexander Lupton, sheet metal technicians with the 121st Maintenance Squadron, 121st Air Refueling Wing, replace a panel on a KC-135 Stratotanker Aug. 9, 2021, at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio. The squadron Airmen continuously maintain readiness of the fleet so the wing is able support numerous missions around the world.

PHOTOS

06.29.21

F16s flying outside KC-135 window

Photo by Spc. Jessica Silhavy, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs

Ohio Air National Guard wings work together: KC-135 refuels F-16s

Airman 1st Class Tristen Miller, a boom operator with the 121st Air Refueling Wing, closes the over-wing hatch of a KC-135 Stratotanker June 29, 2021, at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio. Multiple aircraft, including an F-16 from the 180th Fighter Wing with Maj. Gen. John C. Harris Jr., Ohio adjutant general, aboard, were refueled mid-air during the training flight.

05.26.21

Female Guard member at boom.

Photo by Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot

Eyes on from the boom pod

Staff Sgt. Morgan Hall, a boom operator assigned to the Ohio Air National Guard’s 121st Air Refueling Wing, looks out of the boom pod of a KC-135 Stratotanker during a refueling flight off the coast of the United Kingdom, May 26, 2021. Miller is a part of a group of Guard members operating from Scotland and providing air refueling support as part of exercise At-Sea Demo / Formidable Shield. Formidable Shield is a first-of-its-kind multinational exercise, taking place in the region of the North Atlantic Ocean around the United Kingdom.

11.23.20

KC-135 Stratotanker on tarmac.

Photo by Airman 1st Class Tiffany A. Emery, 121st Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

121st ARW Airmen innovate to help solve Air Force-wide aircraft battery testing failure

A KC-135 Stratotanker operated by the 121st Air Refueling Wing sits on the flight line at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio. Members of the 121st ARW recently partnered with active-duty Airmen at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. to help revise outdated procedures for testing the condition of aircraft batteries on the KC-135 Stratotanker and C-130 Hercules aircraft.

STORY

10.17.20

Medical group inside tent set up in hangar for training.

Photo by Airman 1st Class Mikayla Gibbs, 121st Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

121st Medical Squadron trains to save lives during catastrophic event

Airmen from the 121st Medical Group, 121st Air Refueling Wing conduct a training event Oct. 17, 2020, at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio. Part of the medical element of the Ohio National Guard Homeland Response Force, the Airmen trained on scenarios to prepare them for facilitating medical and casualty recovery operations in the event of a major or catastrophic event in the U.S.

PHOTOS

09.30.19

Three airmen pose in front of aircraft.

Photo by Airman 1st Class Mikayla Gibbs, 121st Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

Flying in their father's footsteps

Lt. Col. Scott Notestine, a pilot with the 166th Air Refueling Squadron, 121st Air Refueling Wing, and Staff Sgt. Cody Notestine and Staff Sgt. Nick Notestine, aircraft metals technology specialists with the 121st Maintenance Squadron, 121st ARW, pose for a photo in front of a KC-135 Stratotanker on the flight line at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Columbus, Ohio, Sep. 28, 2020. Lt. Col. Notestine retires Sep. 30 after 35 years of service, and his sons were recently selected to become pilots in the 121st ARW.

STORY

09.23.19

Ginikos stands in front of firetruck.

Photo by Tech. Sgt. Nic Kuetemeyer, 121st Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

121st Air Refueling Wing hero is Air National Guard Firefighter of the Year

Staff Sgt. Michael Ginikos, a crew chief in the fire department at the 121st Air Refueling Wing, is the winner of the 2018 Chief Albert Fitzpatrick Award for Air National Guard Firefighter of the Year. Ginikos, a Westerville, Ohio native, was chosen as the standout candidate from applicants nationwide.

STORY

09.21.20

A KC-135 Stratotankersits on the flight line during sunrise.

Photo by Airman 1st Class Mikayla Gibbs, 121st Air Refueling Wing

KC-135 sits on flight line at sunrise

A KC-135 Stratotanker operated by the 121st Air Refueling Wing sits on the flight line during sunrise Sep. 21, 2020, at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio. Located within one hour’s flying time of 60% of the U.S. population, the 121st ARW is ideally positioned to support numerous refueling missions, domestically as well as around the word.

PHOTOS

08.04.19

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Nathaniel Carter in front of fleet of F16s

Photo by Staff Sgt. Wendy Kuhn, 121st Air Refueling Wing

Airman aspires to inspire

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Nathaniel Carter, a production controller with the 121st Air Refueling Wing Maintenance Group, stands outside a hangar at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio, Aug. 4, 2019. As a production controller, Carter's job is to coordinate the flight line between the Operations Group and Maintenance.

STORY

04.27.18

Airmen begin 5k.

Photo by Airman 1st Class Tiffany A Emery, 121st Air Refueling Wing

Embrace Your Voice 5k Color Run

U.S. service members from Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio participate in the “Embrace Your Voice” 5k Color Run April 27, 2018 at RANGB. Participants were doused with teal powder as they ran, walked, and biked the 3.1 miles.

PHOTOS

04.27.18

Airman being sprayed with paint as they run by field of teal twirlees.

Photo by Senior Master Sgt. Ralph Branson, 121st Air Refueling Wing

Sexual assault prevention awareness month 5K color run

U.S. service members participate in the Ohio National Guard 'Embrace Your Voice' 5K Color Run April 27, 2018, at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio. Participants were doused with teal powder as they ran, walked, and biked the 3.1 miles.

PHOTOS

STORY ARCHIVE   

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02.28.2014   Blue Jackets conduct hockey clinic at RANGB

04.14.2014   KC-135 Stratotankers provide refueling station in sky


03.19.2015   Rickenbacker wing hosts second Pilot for a Day

04.28.2015   Pilot lifts spirits, builds resiliency through sport

04.25.2015   National Guard Bureau chief visits Ohio

08.06.2015   New training brings new opportunity for security forces Airmen


09.06.2016   Combined Medical Engagement partners ONG, Serbia, Angola to help citizens in rural Serbia

10.06.2016   Rickenbacker provides shelter for Air Force F-22s, T-38s during Hurricane Matthew


03.20.2017   Ohio National Guard military child wins national award

05.04.2017   Airman Spotlight: Staff Sgt. Jamie Matheney

07.27.2017   Gahanna teen becomes honorary pilot for a day

10.27.2017   Ohio National Guard transportation company deploys to Puerto Rico to aid hurricane relief efforts

11.14.2017   Ohio Air National Guard member earns Latino Military Service award


02.02.2018   121st Air Refueling Wing prepares for new flight simulator

02.03.2018   'A Beacon of Hope:' Staff Sgt. Eric Piime's story

03.16.2018   Air Force recognizes all four Ohio Air National Guard wings for outstanding achievement

05.01.2018   May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month: Ride Safe

06.12.2018   Among the best at his craft: 121st ARW recruiter hits career milestone in record time

07.13.2018   121st ARW honors WASP legacy in prominent way

08.02.2018   121st ARW honors Tuskegee Airman at Rickenbacker track dedication

09.12.2018   Joint Base Langley-Eustis relocates aircraft to Rickenbacker in advance of Hurricane Florence

10.09.2018   Responding when the community calls: Ohio Air National Guard firefighters provide emergency aid

12.11.2018   121st Air Refueling Wing's Civil Engineering Squadron plays key role in unit's nuclear mission


09.23.2019   121st Air Refueling Wing hero is Air National Guard Firefighter of the Year