Blacksnake Bytes

U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Leslie Keiser discusses deployment and public affairs topics with Tech. Sgt. Kathleen LaCorte at the 122nd Fighter Wing, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Feb. 28, 2025. Keiser covers highlights and lessons learned from the deployment as well as what it is like to be a public affairs specialist in the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air National Guard audio by Tech. Sgt. Kathleen LaCorte)

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kathleen LaCorte interviews Lt. Col. Alana Minx, 122nd Fighter Wing Mission Support Group deputy commander, about the upcoming 2025 Fort Wayne Air Show to be held July 12-13, 2025 at the 122nd FW in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Minx discusses highlights, plans and excitement surrounding the air show. (U.S. Air National Guard audio by Tech. Sgt. Kathleen LaCorte)

Capt. Jenna Monhaut sits down with Senior Master Sgt. Leslie Keiser to explain what the Equal Opportunity (EO) office does by breaking down barriers and misconceptions.

Lt Rogers sits down for a spotlight episode on one of our all-star 122nd Fighter Wing crew chiefs, Senior Airman Delaney Smith.

Strap in and get ready for high-speed thrills as we sit down with two experienced fighter pilots for an exclusive Q&A session.

The Crash Damage Disabled Aircraft Recovery (CDDAR) team responds to in-flight and ground emergencies, and trains to recover damaged aircraft.

Enjoy this episode with the incoming and outgoing 122nd Fighter Wing Commanders.

This interview spotlights a team who keeps things running on base...literally! Our vehicle maintenance shop make sure that the fleet of government vehicles are operational for transporting people and supplies where they need to go. If you are considering a career in the military that translates well to the civilian side, vehicle maintenance may be the job for you!

Enjoy this interview with State Command Chief Master Sergeant Mike Dixon, who started out as one of our own Blacksnakes, and now serves as the senior enlisted leader of the Indiana Air National Guard.

Military chaplains are a key part of the U.S. military support system. Not only do they provide spiritual and religious counseling to service members and their families, but they can do so with 100% confidentiality. Tune in to this episode to meet the 122nd Fighter Wing Chaplains and Religious Affairs Airmen who work together to facilitate the free exercise of religion in the military. #InternationalPodcastDay

In this episode of Blacksnake Bytes, we interview our wing historian, Douglas Dye. This role serves an important purpose in preserving the 122nd Fighter Wing's history and telling the stories of those who've served their nation and community.

Physical fitness is an integral part of being a U.S. service member, but it doesn’t have to be a chore! Join us for an in-depth conversation on increasing your cardio and physical endurance, getting that run time down, and lifestyle tips to support physical longevity and health.

A military recruiter joins Blacksnake Bytes to share the top reasons that bring people to the military, and how joining the National Guard can benefit a person's career, education, and sense of purpose.

The job of a military recruiter is essential for building a strong workforce, but they can't do it alone! Every member of the 122nd Fighter Wing has a unique story to tell. In this short Q&A episode, TSgt Delagrange shares how we can use our diverse backgrounds and experiences to bring new members to our base. Reach out to our recruiting team if you want to get involved!

Tune in to this episode of Blacksnake Bytes to learn how a small but important office works behind the scenes to bring the 122d Fighter Wing essential supplies and projects, while also supporting the local Fort Wayne economy and businesses by responsibly spending taxpayer dollars. If you are a military member who has big ideas on how to modernize your workplace, this episode will give you the tools for effectively working with the contracting office.

In this episode of Blacksnake Bytes, we speak with the team leading the charge in bringing F-16 fighter jets back to Fort Wayne. They highlight the group effort and cooperation that have made this fighter conversion from A-10 Thunderbolt II to F-16 Fighting Falcon possible, and give a behind-the-scenes look at the process. They also discuss the new job opportunities that this conversion will bring to the 122nd Fighter Wing.

The Commander of the 122d Fighter Wing, Col. Joshua Waggoner joins the Blacksnake Bytes team for a 1 year anniversary episode of the podcast to talk about his vision for the future of the fighter wing, bringing the F-16 Viper back to Fort Wayne, and plans for building a new, modernized base. He also shares the history of the fighter wing's new motto, drawn from Mad Anthony Wayne, an integral figure in the Revolutionary War and in Fort Wayne's legacy.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention month. In this episode of Blacksnake Bytes, we sit down with Julie Caskey, our Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) to talk about the services and resources that she and her team provide to survivors of sexual assault, as well as their families, coworkers, and supervisors. SARCs are responsible for ensuring that victims of sexual assault receive appropriate and responsive care, and provide the Wing Commander with a broad understanding of the unit’s climate in regards to sexual assault. The SARC also conducts annual training for DOD members on sexual assault prevention. Don’t miss this episode!

Welcome to another episode of Blacksnake Bytes! Managing your money for retirement and keeping expenses under control can be a stressful and frustrating experience. Kevin Kensinger provides personal financial counseling services to military members in northern Indiana—for free! In this episode, Kevin explains how Indiana servicemembers can get their 2023 state taxes refunded thanks to a new Indiana law, and how he helped servicemembers who worked on COVID-19 state active duty orders save almost $600,000 in taxes. He explains how to use the Thrift Savings Program (TSP) to plan for retirement, gives tips on how to reduce monthly expenses and make a financial plan. This episode is packed full of useful information that everyone can use. Don’t miss it!

Welcome to Blacksnake Bytes! In the military, commanders are tasked with leading people and organizations, which is not as easy as it sounds! In part two, you’ll learn about these commanders’ management styles, changes coming to the 122nd Fighter Wing, managing priorities with limited resources and time, and much more! Don’t miss part one to get a behind the scenes look of what it’s like to be a commander, how they find mentors and support in learning to do the job, and their favorite self-development books, podcasts, and activities! 01:30 how do you utilize your chiefs and first sergeants? 05:15 lost in translation: working through communication issues 05:55 open door policies 10:25 what is the mission of the F-16? 11:45 Agile Combat Employment (ACE) and Multi-Capable Airmen (MCA) 17:33 how will ACE and MCA change the way we work? 18:45 what qualities do you look for in Airmen? 20:05 managing priorities with limited resources and time 26:01 what great things are your Airmen doing? 31:51 what’s one thing that people might not know about you? 34:07 advice for people who are thinking of joining the unit, or those who want to leave the military