Learning is 'explosive'

Staff Sgt. Michael Blanch, 62nd Civil Engineer Squadron explosives ordnance disposal technician, explains the inner workings of an improvised explosives device Oct. 30 at McChord Air Force Base, Wash. A group of 25 civic leaders were sponsored by the 302nd Airlift Wing during a community relations tour to the Northwest base where they learned more about the Air Force Reserve mission. The 302nd AW is based out of Peterson AFB, Colo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Stephen Collier)

Wait for it

Carol O'Leary, president and chief executive officer of the Challenger Learning Center and a civic leader from Colorado Springs, Colo., gets ready to capture an image of a C-17 Globemaster III combat off load Oct. 30 at McChord Air Force Base, Wash. A group of 25 civic leaders were sponsored by the 302nd Airlift Wing during a community relations tour to the Northwest base, where they learned more about the Air Force Reserve mission. The 302nd AW is based out of Peterson AFB, Colo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Stephen Collier)

Wait for it

Thank you for your service

Joan Sell, Air Force Association Rocky Mountain Region president and a civic leader from Colorado Springs, Colo., presents Senior Master Sgt. James Nichols a wing commander coin for excellence Oct. 30 at McChord Air Force Base, Wash. A group of 25 civic leaders were sponsored by the 302nd Airlift Wing during a community relations tour to the Northwest base where they learned more about the Air Force Reserve mission. The 302nd AW is based out of Peterson AFB, Colo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Stephen Collier)

'It's quite impressive'

Bill McPherson (center), city adminsitrator of Cripple Creek, Colo., and a civic leader, talks with a member of the aeromedical evacuation aircrew while experiencing a ride on a C-17 Globemaster III Oct. 30. A group of 25 civic leaders were sponsored by the 302nd Airlift Wing during a community relations tour to McChord Air Force Base, Wash., where they learned more about the Air Force Reserve mission. The 302nd AW is based out of Peterson AFB, Colo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Stephen Collier)

What a sight

Washington state's Mt. Saint Helens presents itself to a group of civic leaders from Colorado Springs, Colo., as their C-17 flies over head Oct. 30. A group of 25 leaders were sponsored by the 302nd Airlift Wing during a community relations tour to McChord Air Force Base, Wash., where they learned more about the Air Force Reserve mission. The 302nd AW is based out of Peterson AFB, Colo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Stephen Collier)

Colorado Springs movers, shakers see AF Reserve mission first-hand

Published Nov. 4, 2008
By Stephen J. Collier
302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- "Folks, you might want to hold on to something as we are going to accelerate quickly." The pilot of the C-17 wasn't kidding. As he pushed the throttle forward faster than most on board have ever accelerated, one could see this crew was in complete shock and awe by either the grins on their face or their eyes growing bigger.

This was no ordinary crew however. A total of 25 community leaders from the local Colorado Springs' 302nd Airlift Wing based here, were invited to experience an Air Force Reserve community relations tour and orientation trip to McChord AFB, Wash. During the multi-state trip, they learned about the Air Force Reserve's mission as well as McChord's 446th Airlift Wing, a Reserve unit with the heavy task of providing strategic airlift to every point on the planet from Antarctica to Iraq.

"This was one of the most significant uses of my time in a long time," Carol O'Leary, Challenger Learning Center of Colorado President and Chief Executive Officer said. "I came home with a new world of knowledge about the way the Air Force Reserve serves our country and how they present and conduct themselves [through their actions]. I learned about a world I didn't understand at all and now I have the ability to turn around to my community and tell them about it."

The group was also impressed with the massive C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. The civic leaders were given an in-depth brief on the day-to-day maintenance of the aircraft and an overview on missions the 446th AW has supported. Later, the group boarded one of the strategic transport aircraft for an up close demonstration of a combat off load of a cargo pallet and 90-minute flight around the greater Tacoma, Wash., area, including an orbit around both Mount St. Helens and Rainier.

"Prior to my trip, my knowledge was minimal of the specifics of the Air Force Reserve mission," said James Stewart, President of the Colorado Springs Black Chamber of Commerce. "It's clear that certain missions really are comprised mostly from the [Air Force] Reserve, specifically the medical evacuation [mission], because of the level of experience and requirement for seasoned training."

Valuing the interaction between civilian employers and their Reserve workers, Col. James Muscatell, 302nd AW commander, said the need to inform not only civilians, but civilian employers of the value of Reservists, is essential.

"We love taking the time to show our civic leaders firsthand what the Air Force Reserve is all about," the colonel said. "This is so important because the minute a Reservist is called to action, the need for their community to better understand how they perform the mission of defending this country becomes even more important. I feel we really hit a home run (informing civilians during the tour) and we were truly effective in showing what we do."

Employers who want to be a part of the Reserve can join the Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve, or ESGR organization. The group exists to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve component members (both the Reserve and National Guard) and their civilian employers to assist in giving resolution of conflicts arising from an employee's military commitment. Many never guess it, but Reservists fill a variety of everyday jobs in your community.

"I just thought they were people who went in on the weekends and did some work," Mrs. O'Leary continued. "I had no understanding of the significant contributions they make to our war effort. I knew the (Air Force) Reserve gets called up because of a friend who went to Iraq, but I was so surprised to see how they are integrated into the mission and then I come home and they are the ones who are my dentist or the ones who drive my bus."

Community relations tours are conducted on few occasions throughout the year and tell a portion of the Air Force story to visitors. The 302nd AW custom-tailors tours to ensure community leaders are exposed the most to issues and stresses affecting Air Force Reserve members, especially during times of deployment.