Changing of the guard set for JWA

Paul Clinton

The California Air National Guard patrols will pull out of John Wayne

Airport next week. They will be replaced with Army National Guard

patrols.

The 222nd Combat Communications Squad of the Air National Guard, which

is based in Costa Mesa, will be reassigned to Los Angeles International

Airport.

The move is expected to occur Monday, Guard Sgt. Frank Miezwa said.

The units began patrolling the airport and overseeing screening

checkpoints in mid-October. Gov. Gray Davis ordered the move to help

secure airports across the state after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Several dozen armed guards have been stationed at the airport to add

an extra layer of security. That number isn’t expected to change.

“I would think it would be a one-for-one exchange,” Miezwa said.

The new guardsmen will come from other areas of the state. About 800

guardsmen will patrol the state’s 28 airports until late May, when

federal employees are expected to replace them.