; Whereas the 131st Air National Guardsmen carry on the proud tradition of supporting the State of Missouri and the United States, which dates back to the founding of the 131st Bomb Wing in 1923; Whereas the 20th Attack Squadron, which has been based at Whiteman AFB since January 2011 and is assigned to the 432d Operations Group in Nevada, flies the remotely piloted aircraft MQ-9 Reaper for aerial reconnaissance and forward observation; Whereas, though geographically separated from the 432d Operations Group, the 20th Attack Squadron provides integral intelligence and close air support and is able to conduct strikes; Whereas the 1-135th Assault Helicopter Battalion, a unit of the Missouri National Guard, supports humanitarian and disaster relief operations as well as transportation on drug interdiction missions; and Whereas the 1-135th Assault Helicopter Battalion has recently transitioned to using the UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter, which allows for more effective joint force training: Now, therefore, be it