Day of 'Wow's!

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Paul Dean
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Several weeks after local farmers and businesspeople hosted Airmen from Altus Air Force Base--offering a glimpse of their lives in the Oklahoma panhandle neighborhood--the base welcomed these same neighbors for a look at one of the most important Air Force missions.

The view was from 25,000 feet or so. And although the group of several dozen guests had to be split up they remained in close proximity. Some laid in the belly of a KC-135 refueler, looking down on their neighbors in the receiver aircraft, a C-17 Globemaster. Those in the Globemaster peered upward, following the sightline of the boom, meeting the awestruck glances of their friends in the pod above.

"This is just awesome. I can't believe it," said Mr. Garret Krier, a local television reporter with KSWO Channel 7, Lawton, Okla. Mr Krier was aboard the KC-135 with a videographer. The pair produced a news segment highlighting the mission and base for those in the community who couldn't experience Air Force mission accomplishment first hand.

Guests were welcomed by 97th Air Mobility Wing Vice Commander Col. Stuart Shaw before heading to the flightline. The Colonel thanked them for their hospitality in October, applauded them for their support of the base and promised the day would be one to remember. The Colonel seemed energized after seeing how many base neighbors took time out of their busy schedules to visit the base and assured them how impressed they would be after witnessing training conducted at Altus AFB that directly supports joint efforts of everybody in the military--both those on the ground and in the air.

Each of the guests seemed equally awestruck after a glimpse of an air refueling training mission. Many said that the experience is one they will remember always. "The whole thing just looks like it takes so much skill, "said Ronnie McLean, a guest on the KC-135. "I am just so proud of what you [Airmen] do for us and the country," he added.

The Altus AFB Airmen and civilians working to make sure guests were comfortable and properly impressed also enjoyed showing off what they do and where they do it. "Any time I can showcase what we do out here--what we do for the country--is just a great gig," said Staff Sgt. Doug Boren, 54th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator. Sergeant Boren became the center of a swarm of people asking questions about everything Air Force as soon as the KC-135 aircraft found smooth air and guests were free to move about the aircraft. "This is just great," he said.

The Farm-City Program is a community outreach program developed by Altus AFB leadership and the Altus Chamber of Commerce. The program is designed to maintain and bolster the positive relationship between the base and its neighbors.

As of the date of this article, the news story produced by Mr. Krier was available at http://www.kswo.com, featured videos, "Farmers in Altus take a ride on KC-135."