C-5 Formal Training Unit Ribbon Cutting

Major Generals Robert Duignan, 4th Air Force Commander, and Quentin Peterson, Director of Air, Space and Information Operations, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, did the honors at the C-5 Formal Training Unit Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Lackland AFB's Kelly Field while Brig. Gen. John Fobian, 433rd Airlift Wing Commander looks on. The November 30 ceremony commemorated the beginning of a new era for the Air Force Reserve's 433rd Airlift Wing. When the transition from the former facility at Altus AFB is complete, the schoolhouse at Lackland will be the only C-5 FTU and will supply aircrews to every Air Force C-5 unit, active duty, Guard and Reserve. Training at the new Kelly Field facility began in October and will reach full capacity in April. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Collen McGee)

C-5 Formal Training Unit Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Major Generals Robert Duignan, 4th Air Force Commander, and Quentin Peterson, Director of Air, Space and Information Operations, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, did the honors at the C-5 Formal Training Unit Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Lackland AFB's Kelly Field. The November 30 ceremony commemorated the beginning of a new era for the Air Force Reserve's 433rd Airlift Wing. When the transition from the former facility at Altus AFB is complete, the schoolhouse at Lackland will be the only C-5 FTU and will supply aircrews to every Air Force C-5 unit, active duty, Guard and Reserve. Training at the new Kelly Field facility began in October and will reach full capacity in April. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Collen McGee)

History came home

Published Dec. 3, 2006
By Master Sgt. Collen McGee
433rd Airlift Wing

LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Fifty-five years ago, the 433rd Airlift Wing, then called the 907th Training Wing, had a mission to train pilots at Kelly Field. In recent history, from the same airfield at Lackland AFB, TX, the 433rd AW flew C-5s supporting operations around the globe. And though the mission to support global airlift will continue to send Alamo Wing C-5s around the world, a new additional mission brings the wing's aircrew training history home.
The 433rd AW will once again teach Air Force men and women how to be aircrew, this time on the C-5.
Brigadier General John Fobian, 433rd AW Commander looked on as Maj. Generals Robert Duignan, 4th Air Force Commander, and Quentin Peterson, Director of Air, Space and Information Operations for Headquarters Air Mobility Command, stepped onto a stage and cut the ribbon dedicating the new C-5 Formal Training Unit Complex at Lackland AFB on November 30th.
"The ceremonial cutting of the ribbon for the schoolhouse is symbolic of the Air Force Reserve Vision: To provide the world's best mutual support to the Air Force and our joint partners. Flying and fighting as an unrivaled Wingman," said General Fobian as he addressed the ceremony audience.
Being a wingman to C-5 aircrews form every C-5 unit across the unified commands is no easy job. But when the decision was made to move the schoolhouse, the Alamo Wing proved to be the location with the longest continuous C-5 history in the Reserve, proved to be the location with the least crowded air space and has the highest level of community support.
The 433rd AW was the first Reserve wing to own and operate its own fleet of C-5 aircraft, the airfield was opened as a training field and San Antonio has long been called Military City USA.
With the graduation of the first three students in October of this year, Col. Del Lewis, the 433rd Operations Group commander told the graduates that older pilots always ask new pilots 'where did you learn that? Colonel Lewis said that for years the answer was always 'I learned that at Altus AFB, sir.' Colonel Lewis said 'from now on the answer will be 'I learned that at Lackland's Kelly field.