910th launches Valley civic leaders to tour Keesler AFB Published April 30, 2015 By Master Sgt. Bob Barko, Jr. 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- The 910th Airlift Wing, based here, launched a Civic Leader Tour consisting of 31 civic leaders and their military escorts to Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, April 15-16, 2015. The tour departed in the early morning of April 15, heading south aboard a 910th C-130H Hercules aircraft for a two-day, one-night event designed to give attendees a better understanding of the Air Force Reserve mission and how it differs from base to base around the country. During the flight to Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, attendees were able to visit the aircraft flight deck and interact with aircrew and loadmasters as mission requirements allowed. Upon arrival at Keesler, participants learned about one of Air Force Reserve Command’s (AFRC) special missions, the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Hurricane Hunters, and walked through one of the unit’s specially modified WC-130J aircraft. The group visited the installation’s weather schoolhouse and Keesler Medical Center where they learned about Air Force meteorology and medical training courses. The Northeastern Ohio civic leaders also interacted with members of the Biloxi Chamber of Commerce during lunch and dinner. Besides enjoying southern-style hospitality, the group received perspective on how the Biloxi-area chamber and Keesler AFB work together for mutual benefit. The whirlwind pace of the tour continued the next day and featured a visit to Stennis International Airport, Mississippi. This facility hosted 10,000 members of Joint Task Force Buckeye, led by the Ohio National Guard, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Five years later, the airport hosted another AFRC special mission, the 910th’s Department of Defense-unique Aerial Spray mission and oil spill dispersing capability in response to 2010’s Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. The airport operations manager briefed the tour group on how the facility supported civil emergency military operations responders and expressed appreciation for Ohio’s relief efforts in the wake of these unprecedented natural disasters. After leaving Stennis, the tour continued with a visit to the Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, the training center for the U.S. Navy’s famed SeaBees. The visit to the Navy installation allowed the Ohio civic leaders to see operations of a sister service and the joint interaction between services including meeting an Air Force instructor at the SeaBee school house. The visit also allowed 910th personnel to tie the importance of joint operations back to one of the tenant units at YARS, the Navy Reserve Operational Support Center Youngstown. Following the visit to Gulfport and lunch in Biloxi, Mississippi, the group returned to Keesler to board their C-130 and make the return trip to YARS, arriving in the late afternoon, April 16. According to Department of Defense (DoD) regulations, Civic Leader Tours are held in the best interest of DoD, Air Force (AF) and Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) public affairs objectives and invitees are civic leaders, employers or other audience which can make positive contributions to the public's understanding of the missions of the DoD, AF and AFRC. “We want you to share what you have seen over the last two days and share it with your family, friends and co-workers,” said 910th Airlift Wing Commander Col. James Dignan. “Tell them about the great things the Air Force Reserve is doing in Northeast Ohio, across the country all the way down to America’s Gulf Coast and around the world.” Based on comments made after the trip, the goal of educating the group about the Air Force Reserve was accomplished. “Thank you for such a wonderful trip,” said Jean Corliss, tour attendee and owner of Corliss Marketing Communications in Niles, Ohio. “I cannot believe how much I learned on this flight, as well as enjoy such great camaraderie!”