Taking Care of ‘The Next Generation’: British Royal Air Force Cadets Visit MacDill

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Shawn Rhodes
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing
MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. --  In early 2003, tens of thousands of American military forces were fighting fierce battles up the highways and backroads of southern Iraq. It was the more than forty-thousand British forces that remained largely in the South, holding hard-earned positions and protecting Iraq's valuable oilfields. This was not the first time Britain and America's military worked together, nor would it be the last. Most recently, 15 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve cadets and seven staff members visited the 927th Air Refueling Wing to learn about the unit's mission and the tasks both air forces share.

The day began for the group with a brief on the role the 927th ARW plays at MacDill with its partner, the active-duty 6th Air Mobility Wing. Wing Commander Michelle Tinworth, a Royal Air Force officer at Central Command, explained to the British cadets the important role Central Command plays in international military operations.

"America and the U.K. are known to work well together and the visit enforces this," said Flight Lieutenant John Wohlgemuth of the RAF Volunteer Reserve. "The representatives from Central Command informed the cadets of the importance of working with other countries and having face-to-face relations with them, to keep relations sweet as possible and conflicts to a minimum. These cadets have seen first-hand the U.S. and U.K. working together to keep us safe."

In addition to meeting the RAF Wing Commander, the cadets also received a brief from Lt. Col. Michel Escudie, the community relations officer at Central Command. It is Colonel Escudie's job to work with the dozens of nations represented at the command's international coalition, making him a subject-matter-expert in coalition military relations.

"These cadets are gaining a more strategic perspective on the military's role in world affairs," Colonel Escudie said. "I think these cadets, like many people at MacDill and in Tampa, don't realize the size and value of coalition forces here. They are professionals and are a crucial part of our team."

The cadets were then on their way for a tour of the maintenance facility the 927th ARW uses to keep its fleet of KC-135 Tankers operational. At the facility, the cadets received a demonstration in how the machinists can take a part no longer in production and reverse-engineer it using a computer program. From there, the students were able to see a water jet demonstration, where the same computer blueprints generated are used to guide a computerized metal drill to fabricate the part.

"It was good to see the workshop fabrication facility and seeing how spare parts were duplicated and made. It is something for the mechanically-minded to think about as a possible career," said Flight Lt. Wohlgemuth.

Another RAF staff member, Flight Sgt. Daz Wilkinson said "I myself found it very interesting how engineering (Airmen) manufactured parts for their aircraft, as coming from The Royal Air Force, we had to manufacture components to keep equipment working as well."
One of the youngest cadets was 16 years old, and was also impressed with the machinist shop.
"You have quite a few nice toys to play with," said Cadet Aaron Tompkins.

No 927th ARW tour would be complete without an up-close view of the workhorse of the Air Force, the KC-135 Stratotanker Jet. Pilots, crew members and maintenance mechanics were on hand to greet the cadets and answer any questions they had about the aircraft, built before any of the cadets were born.

The crew of the KC-135 was extremely good at explaining their jobs and roles, said Flight Lt. Wohlgemuth.

When the cadets finished their tour of the aircraft, they departed the runway for the control tower to see the control tower simulator and walk around the actual air traffic control room. One of the cadet's flight sergeants said the control tower was the most educational part of the tour.

"I'd say the best bit was the visit to the tower. Just looking at the technology they had was amazing," said Cadet Flight Sgt. Daniel Stride. "The tower simulator was also very good. Being able to simulate any eventuality must be so beneficial to the members of the Air Force."

The tour concluded with a stop at the base's Marina and beach so the British cadets and staff could enjoy something they don't see much in Britain - warm water and hot, sandy shores. As the visit drew to a close, the staff commented on the value of bringing young cadets on tours of foreign military installations.
"The Cadets gained a valuable insight into the day to day running of an airbase, not just that aircraft fly there, but also what goes on behind the scenes to keep those aircraft flying," said Flight Sgt. Wilkinson. He added, "It is important for cadets and staff to mix with foreign militaries, because if they do join one of our services they may have to work with military personnel from different countries, with different backgrounds and customs."

The group's leader, Flight Lt. Wohlgemuth, thought the tour had an impact that will stick with cadets throughout their military careers.

"These cadets are our future: 'The Next Generation' is our slogan," he said. "Some cadets had never been abroad, most had seen the RAF at work whilst visiting bases in the U.K., but to be invited to a U.S. Air Force base and to be shown around, how exciting is that for them? All the cadets were very impressed."