Wing leaders update Congressional members on mission, status of unit

  • Published
  • By Ann Skarban
  • 302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  With military experience levels at 20 and 24 percent in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate respectively during this 112th Congress, educating our federal elected officials on the Air Force Reserve's role and mission continues to be important.
 
Col. Jay Pittman, 302nd Airlift Wing commander, accompanied by the Wing's command chief, Chief Master Sgt. Suzette Cherry, met with seven Colorado and Texas elected officials and their staff members March 19 and 20 in Washington D.C.

The visits gave the 302nd AW leaders the opportunity to share updates and information on the progress of the AF Reserve Wing's Total Force Integration initiative with the active duty's 52nd Airlift Squadron, provide updates on the Wing's Modular Airborne Fire Fighting activations in 2011 as well as discuss the U.S. Air Force's recent Force Structure proposals.

During their district office visits, Pittman and Cherry met with Colorado Senator Michael Bennet, Representative Doug Lamborn (Colo. 5th Congressional District), and Representative Mike Coffman (Colo. 6th Congressional District) and staff members from Senator Mark Udall's, Representatives Diana DeGette's, (Colo. 1st Congressional District), Scott Tipton's (Colo. 3rd Congressional District) and Michael McCaul's (Texas 10th Congressional District) offices.

The 302nd AW leaders' goal throughout the visit was to improve awareness of the Air Force Reserve's mission, activities and people at the 302nd Airlift Wing and to increase the Reserve program's visibility with the Members of Congress.