Civic leaders hosted

  • Published
  • By Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Hosted by the 375th Airlift Wing commander in partnership with the 126th Air Refueling Wing and 932nd Airlift Wing, 18 local civic leaders visited Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., July 15. The trip was designed to educate the civic leaders about Joint Total Force Scott and their missions.

"Our local communities do a tremendous job of supporting JTF Scott," said Col. Al Hunt, 375th AW commander. "It's important they understand the relationships between the active-duty, Guard and Reserve units assigned here, as well as the impact of their missions. This trip to Peterson demonstrated that total force partnership."

The trip began as the civic leaders boarded the 126th ARW's latest KC-135R arrival. In addition to an aeromedical evacuation demonstration in flight, the Guard aircrew also performed an aerial refueling of a B-2 from Whiteman AFB, Mo.

Landing at Peterson an hour and 45 minutes later, Col. Scott Shepherd, 21st Space Wing vice commander, greeted the group and gave them a wing mission briefing. The briefing outlined the similarities between Peterson and Scott, which includes the large number of general officers assigned to each base, the numerous associate partners and the support of the local community.

After the briefing, the group toured the Peterson Air and Space Museum and viewed static aircraft such as the EC-121T Warning Start, the P-47N Thunderbolt and the F-104C Starfighter.

The visit concluded with lunch, a briefing at the 375th AW's geographically-separated C-21 unit the 311th Airlift Squadron, and the Air Force Reserve's 302nd AW where civic leaders learned about the unit's fire-fighting mission.

Returning to Scott on the 932nd AW's C-40, the civic leaders learned about the 932nd's distinguished visitor airlift mission.

"The one thing I got out of the trip," said Terry Foerste, My Tutor Learning Center and Driving School owner, "is that is isn't about active-duty, Reserve, or Guard anymore. It's all integrated now."