Representative Feenstra has high praise for Iowa National Guard members

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot
  • 185th Air Refueling Wing

Representative Randy Feenstra visited the 185th Air Refueling Wing this week. This is the first time since becoming Iowa’s 4th district congressional representative that Feenstra has made a visit to the Iowa Air National Guard unit in Sioux City.

During his visit Congressmen Feenstra had a short meeting with the unit’s leadership. The congressman was given a tour of the facility which included touring one of the unit’s KC-135 air refueling aircraft. Feenstra also had a chance to experience a midair refueling in the unit’s refueling simulator.

“I’m just thrilled to see what happens here on an everyday basis,” said Feenstra.

Feenstra has been at his post for nearly a full year and said that it has been very exciting to visit the numerous communities in western Iowa and help meet the concerns of his constituents. During a short press conference in the unit’s main hangar Feenstra had high praise for members of the Iowa National Guard.

“I am so proud of the Iowa National Guard with all the deployments that they have had over the last five years, it’s just been incredible,” said Feenstra.

Feenstra said it is not only guard members who are worthy of praise, but also the Siouxland community and particularly National Guard employers who deserve credit for their support of the National Guard and its members.

“We have troops that are gone from 6 to 11 months at a time, they are leaving their jobs and yet our business are supportive,” Feenstra added.

While back in Iowa Feenstra said he plans to meet with his colleague, Representative Don Bacon from Nebraska this weekend. Bacon is retired Air Force and a former commander of Offutt Air Force Base. Feenstra said that he wants to work with Bacon in order to ensure continued support for both the National Guard in Iowa and the active Air Force.

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