San Antonio civic leaders go west, experience Total Force mission

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Carlos Trevino
  • 433rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas --  "Go west, young man" American author Horace Greeley said about America's expansion westward. Recently, 17 civic leaders from the local San Antonio area did just that during the 433rd Airlift Wing's Civic Leaders' Tour to Luke and Davis-Monthan Air Force Bases in Arizona, March 22-23.

"The Alamo Wing has always enjoyed first class support from our community, and this trip is a tremendous opportunity to strengthen the bond with our civic leaders by demonstrating the readiness and capabilities of our reserve Airmen, said Col. Aaron Vangelisti, 433rd Airlift Wing interim commander.

During the first leg of the tour, civic leaders arrived at Luke AFB in Phoenix and received the 308th Fighter Squadron's mission briefing from Maj. Justin Robinson, 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron, and then viewed an F-16 Falcon aircraft.

"The more we know what the Air Force Reserve is doing, the better we can communicate to our community what you do for not only the city and the state, but the whole world," said Tom Frost, executive vice president of Frost Bank. "I'm a better ambassador knowing all these things you taught me on this trip."

After the static display, civic leaders were given a joint mission briefing explaining the associate wing concept at the 56th Fighter Wing's headquarters building by 944th Fighter Wing Commander Col. Jose Monteagudo, and 56th FW's Vice Commander Col. Robert Webb.

Following lunch, the group visited the base's flight simulator to experience flying in an F-16.

"It's an eight million-dollar video game," said Lt. Col Eric Perlman, 69th Fighter Squadron. He instructed the visitors on how to fly, fight and win in the simulator.

"I did better than I thought I would," said Lisa O'Briant, assistant vice president, Economic Development, San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. Her simulated mission featured flying and landing.

The group then boarded the 433rd AW's C-5A Galaxy aircraft for a short trip to Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson. After a quick check-in at the hotel and little down time, they met with members of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce at a local restaurant.

The next morning, the group visited the 943rd Rescue Group's 305th Rescue Squadron. The 305th Rescue Squadron is trained and equipped to conduct combat search and rescue missions worldwide. Their mission requires them to travel to dangerous austere locations to recover wounded personnel. The pararescuemen and flight engineers showed off their equipment and demonstrated their life-saving medical techniques.

Pararescuemen received a portion of their training here at Lackland AFB, attending a two-week Combat Control Orientation Course.

The final stop on the guided tour was the world-famous bone yard, officially known as the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group. AMARG is a specialized facility which provides critical aerospace maintenance and regeneration capabilities for joint and allied/coalition warfighters. The facility occupies 2,600 acres and manages an inventory of more than 4,200 aircraft. The AMARG team also reclaims aircraft parts to support global warfighting operations, saving taxpayers millions of dollars annually.

"It was fascinating," said Ed Pena, a senior marketing manager with AT&T and the 433rd Maintenance Squadron's honorary commander. "I had never thought about what the military did with decommissioned planes."

The 433rd AW's Honorary Commanders Program partners commanders with San Antonio civic leaders. The program allows community partners gain an awareness of the Air Force Reserve's military mission and affords military members and their units an opportunity to learn more about San Antonio communities.

After lunch, the group boarded the C-5A for the return flight home.

"This tour was more interesting than I ever thought it would be, O'Briant said. Just learning what the men and women of the Air Force do - I was so impressed."