Volk Field Air National Guard Base

Volk Field Air National Guard Base is a Wisconsin Air National Guard installation located near Camp Douglas in Juneau County, Wisconsin. Its origins trace back to 1888 and 1889, when land was acquired for a rifle range and a permanent state training site for the Wisconsin National Guard. The site was named Camp Williams in 1927 in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Charles R. Williams, and in 1957 the facility was named Volk Field in memory of 1st Lieutenant Jerome A. Volk, the first Wisconsin Air National Guard pilot killed in combat during the Korean War. In 1989 it was redesignated as a Combat Readiness Training Center, the role it continues to serve today by supporting realistic training for joint and Air National Guard forces.

As at many military airfields, decades of fire suppression activity and firefighting training at Volk Field have raised concerns about potential exposure to a group of long-lasting chemicals known collectively as PFAS. Testing has identified these compounds in groundwater associated with the installation, and several distinct contaminants have been documented in connection with that activity.

1. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a family of synthetic chemicals valued for their resistance to heat, water, and grease, and they break down very slowly in the environment. At Volk Field, PFAS entered groundwater largely through the use of firefighting foam on the installation. PFAS exposure has been associated in some studies with a range of health concerns, which is why the contamination has drawn ongoing attention.
2. PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) is one of the most studied members of the PFAS family and was a primary ingredient in older firefighting foams. Combined PFOA and PFOS concentrations in groundwater at Volk Field have been reported as high as roughly 23,000 ng/L. Research has explored possible associations between PFOS and effects on the immune system, liver, and other outcomes, though findings continue to be evaluated.
3. PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) is another widely used PFAS compound that was present in legacy foam formulations and has been detected alongside PFOS in the groundwater here. PFOA has been associated in some studies with concerns about potential effects on cholesterol levels and other health measures.
4. AFFF (aqueous film-forming foam) is the firefighting product that served as the primary source of the PFAS detected at Volk Field. Used to suppress fuel fires during emergencies and training, AFFF historically contained PFOS and PFOA, and its repeated use is the activity most closely linked to the groundwater contamination at the installation.

Volk Field is not listed on the National Priorities List. Investigation and cleanup are instead proceeding under the federal CERCLA process administered through the Department of Defense and the National Guard Bureau, in coordination with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The installation received authorization and funding for an off-base drinking water study to assess nearby water sources, and it has advanced into the Remedial Investigation phase to evaluate the nature and extent of contamination.

Veterans, Guard members, and others who lived or worked at Volk Field may wish to stay informed as testing and cleanup continue. Those with questions about possible exposure are encouraged to keep records of their service and to speak with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs about available health resources and benefits guidance.