(Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa National Guard, say “As anticipated, the Director of the Air National Guard (ANG) has released a Force Structure announcement that divests the 133rd Test Squadron’s mission located in Fort Dodge. We anticipate that this will result in the eventual closure of the unit and Air Guard facility in Fort Dodge.” The statement went on to says “The Iowa National Guard is among a handful of states impacted by Air Force and ANG’s force-restructuring decisions which are driven in large part by the need to modernize and reprioritize our national defense capabilities and redefine mission sets. There is no official timeline with this confirmation from the ANG, but we are working with the community of Fort Dodge to honor the history of the 133rd and to prioritize the care of our people with future opportunities within the Iowa National Guard.”

The National Guard will maintain its presence in Fort Dodge with 107 Soldiers of the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion 194th Field Artillery and a full-time force of seven employees at the Field Maintenance Shop (FMS).

Full deactivation of the 133rd may take years to complete and is dependent on Department of Defense resources to fully execute and comply with all related regulations and polices. Officials say “Our priority currently is to ensure that all affected Air Guardsmen/women are afforded options to continue their careers with the Iowa Air National Guard. This diverse team brings a wide range of skills and views to the table enhancing the overall unit capabilities as a test squadron.”