Joint Forces Training Base

JFTB welcomed Colonel Julie Balten, Commander of the Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District, and her leadership team to the installation on Tuesday, Nov. 24, for a base orientation and capabilities brief delivered by Senior Garrison Commander Brigadier General Mike Leeney. Colonel Balten assumed command of the LA District in July and is relocating her headquarters to Los Al upon completion of renovations to their building scheduled for the summer of 2021. During her vi...sit, Colonel Balten took time to personally present her coin and certificates of appreciation to Cal Guard air crews from the 1st Assault Helicopter Battalion, 140th Aviation Regiment, who supported the Army Corps of Engineers during flood fighting exercises conducted in October at the Whittier Narrows Dam. (California State Guard photographs by Col. (CA) Richard Lalor)

Spectrum News is broadcasting live from Sunburst Youth Academy this morning at JFTB.

The Citizen Soldiers of the Cal Guard stationed at Joint Forces Training Base are pleased to invite military families -- Active Duty, Guard and Reserve -- to join us, along with our special friends from the Bob Hope USO Orange County, for "Santa's Workshop" and a Holiday Movie Night on Saturday, December 5th! See details below.

#Veteransday celebrates those that serve. Take a look at this amazing story that celebrates one of our own Cal Guardsmen and Veteran who continues to serve his fellow service members!

Today, we thank the men and women who gave selflessly and sacrificed in service to their country. Join us in saluting this #VeteransDay.

A Memorial Ceremony honoring Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Robert Brandt will be live-streamed here on the Cal Guard Facebook page at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30, 2020. The U.S.... Army aviator's long and distinguished military career included a deployment to Vietnam where he was awarded a Purple Heart and serving as Assistant Adjutant General of the California Army National Guard. Check back here to watch the ceremony live as it happens as the Cal Guard commemorates the life of Maj. Gen. Brandt who passed earlier this year. See more

The Coulson Aviation - Next Gen Firefighting CH-47 Chinook Very Large Helitanker, which is based at Joint Forces Training Base through December, made its first nighttime fire flight last night on wildfires burning here in Orange County.

JFTB celebrated some long awaited improvements to its base exchange earlier this week, marking the occasion with the cutting of a ceremonial ribbon by BG Mike Leeney, Senior Garrison Commander, and Troop Store Manager Chris Rooney. The event signaled the reopening of the building's all-new main entrance and the debut of its new ADA-compliant bathroom facilities. "This is an important day for our installation," remarked General Leeney prior to cutting the ribbon. "These improvements afford JFTB the opportunity to better serve our Soldiers, our Veterans and their families, including members of the military branches who train here throughout the year. I am pleased that I was present to see this project come to fruition." (California State Guard Photos by Col. (CA) Richard Lalor)

Yesterday, a Cal Guard UH-60M Black Hawk from JFTB's Army Aviation Support Facility #1 conducted a flood fighting demonstration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Whittier Narrows Dam. Check out the Whittier Daily News coverage linked below! https://www.whittierdailynews.com//california-national-gu/ California National Guard | Los Angeles District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | The National Guard | U.S. Army

Los Alamitos Army Airfield has played host to a variety of aircraft since it was first established as a Naval Air Station in 1942, and it is now home base for the world's largest helitanker -- at least for the next 83 days beginning on October 1st. As part of a robust partnership between the Orange County Fire Authority, California Governor's Office of Emergency Services and the California National Guard, the largest and most capable heavy-lift helicopter in the world is now ...on station at Los Al supporting firefighting efforts as Southern California enters the peak of its wildfire season. The "Very Large" CH-47 Chinook Helitanker (VLHT) is equipped with a state-of-the-art Retardant Aerial Delivery System (RADS) and can deliver a payload of 3,000 gallons of water or retardant in a single pass over a wildfire. Its capabilities also include day and night vision goggle firefighting operations, infrared technology and the ability to hover-fill, even at night. JFTB is extremely proud to support this endeavor, and our state agency partners -- all workig in support of the Governor's priorities to protect lives and property across the state. (California State Guard Photos by Col. (CA) Richard Lalor)

HAPPENING NOW at JFTB.

Thank you from a grateful nation to U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Cabrera who is retiring following 40 years of selfless service to his country in the Marine Corps, Army Reserve and California Army National Guard. He celebrated the special occasion with a dinner at JFTB's Fiddlers Green on Sunday evening (Sept. 20) attended by a full house of family, friends and military colleagues. Cabrera was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by 40th Infantry Division Chief of Sta...ff Col. Gilbert Roldan and received presentations from the cities of Cypress and Los Alamitos, plus numerous military organizations. Cabrera credited the unconditional support of his wife, Linda, and his children for helping him achieve this military milestone, and paid homage to the countless men and women in uniform he served with throughout his career -- with special mention of the Soldiers of the California Army National Guard he was honored to have gone into harm's way with during deployments to Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan. (California State Guard photos by Col. Richard Lalor)

Congratulations to retired U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Joe Valdez of Westminster who recently received a special gift for his 80th birthday at Los Alamitos Army Airfield. Valdez, whose 20 years of military service included combat tours in Vietnam, was honored with a flight in a vintage North American AT-6 Texan flown by pilot owner Tim Williams of San Luis Obispo. (California State Guard photos by Col. Richard Lalor)

The California National Guard is currently involved with a major rescue tonight in the Central Valley. Right now, both a Chinook or CH-47 and a Blackhawk helico...pter are airlifting individuals trapped by the Creek Fire. The first 50-60 evacuees, some with injuries, have been brought to the Cal Guard army facilities at the Fresno Airport where emergency response, fire and medical elements from the 144th Fighter Wing are on hand to assist. Both rotary wing aircraft are returning to the fire site to evacuate more people immediately. See more

Joint Forces Training Base welcomed the Honorable Bryan M. Gossage, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, on Monday, Aug. 31. JFTB was the first stop on Secretary Gossage’s weeklong visit to California Army installations. He was accompanied by special assistant, Dr. Bret Strogen. Following a missions and capabilities overview delivered by installation commander, U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Mike Leeney, Gossage and Strogen toure...d Los Alamitos Army Airfield, JFTB’s Joint Reserve Intelligence Center, the 40th Infantry Division Headquarters, and inspected the base’s new firefighting equipment. Before departing, Secretary Gossage took time to recognize three of JFTB’s top performing Soldiers and presented his coin to California State Guard 1st Sgt. Jesse Sluder, as well as U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ivette Villa and Cpl. Nestor Vasquez. (California State Guard photos by Col. Richard Lalor)

Heads up, Los Al. A warbird flyover is planned for Southern California today and the flight path includes Los Alamitos. https://www.ocregister.com//flyover-planned-in-southern-c/

JFTB's 1st Assault Helicopter Battalion, 140th Aviation Regiment is in the fight up north.

PHOTOS: Signal Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 40th Infantry Division held its change of command ceremony yesterday on Joint Forces Training Base.