Civic leaders learn about AF, AF Reserve missions

  • Published
  • By Maj. Marnee A.C. Losurdo
  • 403rd Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Thirty-two civic leaders from Mississippi joined 403rd Wing leaders on a community relations tour, commonly referred to as a Civic Leader Tour, March 17-18, to Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, and Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia.

Civic leader tours are a way for members of the Biloxi and Gulf Coast community to see other bases and learn about their missions.

"This tour is an opportunity for you to learn about the Air Force Reserve missions of the 403rd Wing and the U.S. Transportation Command, Air Mobility Command, and 22nd Air Force to accomplish the rapid global mobility mission," said Col. Frank L. Amodeo, 403rd Wing commander. "This is an opportunity to see what our Air Force reservists accomplish daily in support of our country, and then you can take that information and share what you have learned with others in this community."

The tour began at Keesler AFB, Mississippi, where civic leaders were briefed on the missions of the 403rd Wing and 81st Training Wing. After the briefing, the group boarded a C-130J Super Hercules, flown by an 815th Airlift Squadron crew. The 815th AS is the 403rd Wing's tactical airlift unit, which delivers supplies and personnel in support of combatant commanders.

At Scott AFB, the group toured USTRANSCOM, AMC and the 618th Air Operations Center, also known as the Tanker Airlift Control Center.

Greg Pietrangelo, City of Gulfport, Director of Urban Planning and Development, said the tour was very informative.

"It was impressive to learn about the coordination it takes to get a tank from point A to point B," said Pietrangelo.

USTRANSCOM provides support to the eight other U.S. combatant commands, military services, defense agencies, and other government organizations. The civic leaders were educated on how the command tasks air, sea and ground capabilities to deliver supplies and personnel around the globe. If air assets are required they task AMC, which provides worldwide cargo and passenger delivery, air refueling and aeromedical evacuation. AMC assets also transport humanitarian supplies to those impacted by natural disasters at home and abroad. The 618th TACC is AMC's execution arm. They plan, schedule and direct a fleet of more than 1,300 mobility aircraft. When activated, the 403rd Wing's 815th Airlift Squadron may report to AMC to support the USTRANSCOM global mission.

That afternoon, the civic leaders toured a 932nd Airlift Wing C-40 aircraft, which transports U.S. leaders around the world.

The next day, the group flew to Dobbins, and the civic leaders learned about the 22nd Air Force mission. The 22nd AF provides combat ready airlift and support personnel to AMC and is the numbered air force for the 403rd Wing. The NAF manages more than 21,000 reservists, ensuring they are trained and mission-ready for worldwide tasking.

Butch Simpson, Coast Centurions Association chair, said it was impressive to see how integrated the Guard and Reserve are with the active component and how they work together to accomplish the mission.

The 403rd Wing has 20 C-130s flown by the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron and the 815th AS.

To provide the civic leaders more information regarding the C-130J model, the tour also visited the Lockheed-Martin plant where the C-130J is built.

"This was a truly amazing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Becky Bennett, Sales and Event Manager, Morton's The Steakhouse. "To be able to watch from the flight deck as Col. Amodeo and the co-pilot landed the C-130J was such an honor.  I leave with a profound sense of pride in the efforts of the Air Force and Air Force Reserve.  I now know why we can all sleep well at night... their efforts to keep us safe are top of the line and truly impressive."