Maintenance Group impresses Honorary Commanders

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Viola Hernandez
  • 433 Airlift Wing
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 433rd Airlift Wing treated members of its Honorary Commander's Program to a Maintenance Group Mission Tour Friday Jan. 13.

Honorary Commanders were given demonstrations in the Fabrications flight and Hydraulic shop, and were also taken through the Propulsion flight, and the Avionics and Electric shops. The tour highlighted many of the tasks that maintenance group personnel are able to accomplish through both hard work and ingenuity. Their commitment left the honorary commanders in awe.

"Just getting to observe some of the operations of the unit was great. Also, seeing the troops making the parts, and then a short while later, seeing a plane fly away just really puts the whole thing in perspective of how much creativity exists here that I was never aware of," said Bill Gerlt, Honorary Commander and an Assistant General Manager with the San Antonio Missions.

The 433rd Honorary Commanders program is designed to be a forum in which the 433rd Airlift Wing Commanders can dialogue and request input from San Antonio's civilian leaders on matters affecting military and civilian communities. The program is comprised of civic leaders and business people and was created to further strengthen community ties. The honorary commanders are assigned to squadrons and groups within the wing that are similar to the civilian duties and responsibilities.

"It's really nice to have community leaders come out here witnessing what the wing does and just how important this wing is to the Air Force and its right in their backyard," said Lt. Col. Jay Johnson, 433rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Commander.

The Honorary Commanders have spent time at their respective squadrons and in the coming year will be given tours of other groups within the Alamo Wing.
 
The program so far has garnered even more respect for the commitment of reservists.

"I just can't say enough about this," said San Antonio Police Department Deputy Chief Janae Florance. Chief Florance is an Honorary Commander partnered with the 433rd Security Forces Squadron.

"As an employer, this makes me have much more respect for what reservists have to do at our job, and then show up here and perform." Gerlt added, "Its more complicated then we knew, it definitely shows that their families deserve our appreciation and that the reservists need as much support as the employers and community can give."