HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- This year, 2025, marks 70 years of Reserve presence at Hill AFB. In that time, thousands of dedicated men and women have built a legacy of dedication, excellence, and grit across multiple airframes and in conflicts and crises across the globe.
The 70-year history has included many Air Force Reserve firsts. Among others, the 419th Fighter Wing was the first Air Force Reserve unit to fly the F-16 Falcon, the first to fly F-16 combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom, were among the first reservists to fly and maintain the F-35 Lightning II and participated in the first deployments of the F-35 to Europe and the Pacific.
“Reservists have provided strategic depth from the Korean conflict to the global war on terrorism and everything in between,” said Col. Ronald J. Sloma, 419th Fighter Wing commander. “The 419th has been there. We are a strategic operational force that ensures United States policy is executed around the world.”
The wing held events over the course of a week to honor reservist alumni and connect those who have served in the past with those who are actively serving now. Events included a golf tournament, a reunion dinner, a 5k fun run, and a final event on Sunday, June 8, 2025, to share food, stories, and fun during a family celebration at Centennial Park.
“Holding a reunion like this allows those who no longer serve in the 419th to see the fruits of their labor and connect to their legacy,” Sloma stated, “and for those of us that are still serving in the wing it’s a chance to understand the underpinnings of our great organization.”
Hill AFB is home to 78 F-35A Lightning IIs. Together, the 388th FW and 419th FW are the Air Force's first combat-capable F-35A units, and fly and maintain the jet in a Total Force partnership, which capitalizes on the strength of both the active duty and Reserve components.