Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma --
1. Introduced in 2007 by General T. Michael Moseley, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, the creed was meant to “reinvigorate the warrior ethos in every Airman of our Total Force.” The creed symbolizes more than just what the Air Force stands for; it holds ideals and values that should be important to every Airman in every capacity. That is why it is taught during basic training, recited at official ceremonies and live it each day we put on the uniform. Whether its upholding a ‘Tradition of Honor’ or a ‘legacy of Valor,’ we are American Airmen and we will not fail.
- Where Airmen fit into the overall Air Force Mission
2. The Altus AFB mission can only be achieved by the Airmen working hard on its installation. Whether it’s an Airman First Class at an installation loading a missile, or the Staff Sgt. making sure a pallet of supplies is ready to go so the next generation of loadmasters and boom operators can complete their required training, every Airmen contributes to the U.S. Air Force mission.
- The Importance of Air Force Base
3. The Mission of Altus AFB is to forge combat mobility forces and deploy Airmen warriors. All U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft and U.S. Air Force KC-35 Stratotanker refueling aircraft aircrews are trained at Altus AFB. With the heavy reliance on these aircrews in contingency and humanitarian operations their training has to be spot-on, which Altus is known for. Without this mission, the Air Force would lose a critical war fighting capability found in the C-17 and KC-135 expertise that Altus provides.
- Things to do around Altus AFB
4. If you love the outdoors, you’ll love Altus. The local area offers numerous opportunities for hunting, hiking and camping. The 97th Force Support Squadron also works tirelessly to provide multiple opportunities for Airmen to get out and have fun, ranging from whitewater rafting and sky diving to paintball, clubs, movies and more. Altus AFB offers a variety of chances for Airmen to get together and do things for fun.
5. With few trees and temperatures that can reach the 100’s, southwest Oklahoma can get hot; luckily the 97th Civil Engineer Squadron maintains base air conditioning units, installed in most buildings around the base. If you want a more active option, the base has a splash pad and pool complete with waterslides located at the Freedom Community Center. A tip to keep the house cool is to get shades to put up in windows to reflect the sun or keep it out of the house while you’re away. For those working in the heat of the day, it is recommended to increase your water intake to help your body replace water lost to sweat.