YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio --
A Boeing C-17 Globemaster III gently makes its descent onto the YARS airfield late at night on July 28, 2017. For YARS it’s rare for anything other than the station’s C-130H Hercules land here. Rarer still, when the rear ramp door opens and its occupants begin to pour out, many are not wearing green flights suits or the standard Airman Battle Uniform we all know so well. Instead, we see men and women in civilian attire shaking hands, smiling, laughing and saying their final goodbyes before parting ways.
These individuals witnessed many aspects of the Air Force culture; its aircraft, its mission and through this shared experience, a taste of camaraderie.
It began with a group of 26 civilians, including law-makers, brick-layers, educators and business owners taking off from the YARS flight line in a C-17 supplied by the 445th Airlift Wing from Wright-Patterson AFB around 9 a.m. July 27, 2017. They flew to Peterson AFB, Colorado to participate in a Civic Leader Tour (CLT). For many on board, this was their first time on a military aircraft, let alone a C-17.
CLTs are conducted to provide a level of communication that significantly contributes to the public’s understanding of the Air Force’s current state of readiness, and operational challenges and issues.
During the flight, participants explored the cargo bay and sat in the flight deck while enjoying a birds-eye view of the world below. Some even had the chance to witness a KC-135R Stratotanker from Grissom AFB refuel their aircraft mid-flight.
And that was just getting there.
Upon landing and receiving the “OK,” the loadmasters slowly lowered the rear aircraft ramp. Light trickled in and revealed the Colorado Rocky Mountains standing tall in the distance. The warm and sunny Colorado weather matched the welcome from the members of Peterson’s 302nd AW.
After receiving the tour itinerary over lunch, the group was shuttled to a Modular Aerial Firefighting System (MAFFS) storage facility. Here, Lt. Col Bradley Ross, an Operations and Training Officer, and Chief Master Sgt. Joe Rorick, Superintendent from the 302nd Operations Support Squadron at Peterson AFB, allowed the civic leaders to get up close and personal with a few of the MAFFS, all while giving them the rundown on the partnership between the 302 AW and the U.S. Forest Service to combat wild fires, how the MAFFS work and how they are utilized.
The 302nd AW aerial spray mission isn’t the only interesting operation on Peterson AFB.
Later that day, the leaders visited North American Aerospace Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) to learn about their roles and mission. These two commands operate within a common security environment and share common values in the defense of the United States and North America.
“Personally, I always had great respect for the Airmen of the 910th, but when you see them working in collaboration with their colleagues in Colorado Springs, you really appreciate the young men and women who are serving our country. We in Youngstown and Mahoning Valley really owe a debt of gratitude to these folks,” said Michael Hripko, the associate vice president for research at Youngstown State University. We need to be very supportive to their missions, whether its hospitality to their Airmen, support for their programming, collaboration in any way we can.”
Part two of the trip took the civic leaders to the U.S. Air Force Academy. After introductions with Col. Gary A. Packard, the Head of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership for the U.S. Air Force Academy, the group was given a tour of the Academy Cadet Chapel and a look at the 94th Flying Training Squadron where the classroom is an airfield and the open sky. Tour members were allowed access to the control tower overlooking the airfield and the chance to speak with a few soaring instructors, qualified cadets who teach others how to fly, and a first-hand look at a TG-16 glider.
From there the leaders rode a bus to Peterson’s flight line and boarded a C-17 headed back east to Youngstown. Through the roar of the aircraft’s engines, conversations about the events of the tour were heard throughout the cargo bay.
“We received overwhelming positive feedback from our guests,” said Col. Dan Sarachene, Commander of the 910th AW. “Everyone was truly amazed with all aspects of the trip; from the C-17 strategic airlift and aerial refueling to the briefing and viewing of the MAFFS equipment to the visit of NORAD and NORTHCOM. Reservists are also elements of the instructor corps at the Air Force Academy, which we were fortunate to see on our visit. And really, in every part of the trip, reserve citizen Airmen played an integral role. All our guests walked away from the two day experience with a lifetime of memories and a mental journal from which we hope they communicate the Reserve Citizen Airman story. And with great appreciation to the 910 AW Public Affairs staff, our mission is accomplished!”
The 910th AW plans on hosting another Civic Leader Tour in the summer of 2018.