TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- "One…Two… Three." Twenty civilians sound off for roll call before a C-130 Hercules aircraft cross country training mission. Not a usual practice for civilians traveling on a commercial aircraft, but more common in the military.
Twenty civic leaders from southern Colorado flew aboard a 302nd Airlift Wing C-130 to Travis Air Force Base, California for a two-day tour with the Air Force Reserve’s 349th Air Mobility Wing. Civic leader tours give community leaders an opportunity to experience a “behind the scenes” and “day-in-the-life” look into the Air Force Reserve.
“I learned more in these two days with a tour like this versus reading the information,” said Davin Neubacher, Navakai, Inc. chief executive officer. “The tactile experience flying in a C-130 showed me military capabilities and the best part was meeting the people.”
Civic leaders visited the 621st Contingency Response Wing, the David Grant USAF Medical Center hyperbaric chamber and simulation center, toured a C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft, and visited the 60th Operational Support Squadron base tower and Radar Approach Control.
“Our [reservist’s] mission is to be fully trained and prepared to deploy anytime,” said Lt. Col. Robert Couse-Baker, 349th AMW chief of public affairs. “Reservists train to be a surge capacity when needed.”
Travis Air Force Base is the largest Air Mobility Base and DGMC is one of the largest hospitals in the Air Force. The base has three weapons systems: the KC-10A Extender, C-17 Globemaster III, and C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft.
The 302nd AW civic leader tour involved community leaders in learning about the Reserve Citizen Airman’s military experience. “I feel like we had backstage passes to meet the heroes,” said Neubacher.
“When we got out of briefings we got to meet the strong enlisted force who are highly educated and proficient,” said Kent Fortune, United Services Automobile Association vice president and general manager for the Colorado Spring campus. “They are amazing.”
At least one employer is resolved to share his newfound knowledge of who reservists are and what they do.
“The people we met during the C-5 tour are extraordinary,” said David Ervin, The Resource Exchange chief executive officer. “When I go home, I want people to understand the reservists doing this job are real, humble, and have an enormous responsibility.”
The U.S. Air Force civic leader tour program allows the Air Force Reserve to educate local community leaders, first-hand, on its missions and role in the nation’s defense.