910th launches valley civic leaders to tour South Florida military installations Published June 2, 2016 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 (CLT) consisting of 35 civic leaders and their military escorts to Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West and Homestead Air Reserve Base (ARB), Florida, April 28-29, 2016. The tour departed Youngstown Air Reserve Station (YARS) in the early morning of April 28, 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 and Joint Operation missions and how they differ from base to base around the country. During the flight to the Florida Keys, attendees were able to visit the aircraft flight deck and interact with aircrew and loadmasters as mission requirements allowed. Upon arrival at Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West, attendees toured the NAS Tactical Combat Training System, a system designed to aid in the training of Navy combat pilots, then were greeted and briefed by the NAS Skipper on the local mission including how 910th aircrews receive water survival training at NAS Key West. After the commander’s mission briefing and lunch, the attendees visited the NAS adversary aircraft squadron. This visit included a mission briefing on the unit’s role of playing “bad guys” during combat pilot training flying scenarios, a hangar tour and an opportunity to take an up-close look at one of the aircraft assigned to the squadron. Following check-in at the group’s overnight lodging location and some personal time, CLT attendees attended a social networking event at one of the local establishments in Old Town Key West followed by a sunset sea cruise. These events allowed a relaxed atmosphere for attendees to learn about ways to support the 910th and YARS including membership opportunities in the Youngstown Air Reserve Base community Council and the Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission. The tour continued the morning of April 29 when the attendees returned to NAS Key West to board the 910th’s C-130 aircraft to make the short trip to Homestead Air Reserve Base (ARB), Florida, home of the 482nd Fighter Wing, flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Upon arrival at Homestead, the group received a mission briefing from the 482nd commander. The tour attendees also heard from the Homestead and Miami-Dade County Pest Management team about their fight with the local mosquito population and how the 910th’s unique aerial spray capability plays a big role in that ongoing Sunshine State battle. The attendees tour of Homestead concluded with the chance to see an F-16 aircraft static display, speak with a fighter pilot and observe F-16 launches from an edge of the runway vantage point. After the Homestead visit wrapped up, the group boarded the 910th C-130 aircraft to journey back to YARS and conclude the two-day civic leader tour. During the return flight, attendees were again able to visit the flight deck and interact with aircrew and loadmasters as mission requirements allowed. 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 audiences which can make positive contributions to the public's understanding of the missions of the DoD, AF and AFRC. “We want you to help tell our story; share what you have seen over the last two days with the people you know out in the community,” 910th Airlift Wing commander Col. James Dignan told the civic leaders at the end of the tour. “Tell them about the great things the Air Force Reserve and our sister services are doing in Northeast Ohio, in South Florida and all around the world.”