Packin' up, movin' out!

  • Published
  • By Thomas Schmidt
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing
SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. --  Aircraft have begun migrating to the Guard, with completion scheduled for July. Military and civilian personnel continue to find employment through the Air Force Reserve Command clearinghouse and with Air Force Reserve units that are within commuting distance. Signing on with the Michigan Air National Guard or being hired by other federal agencies has been a viable option, as well. Some have chosen to return to active duty while others have found it necessary to serve with another military service. 

With all this happening, morale remains high and the remaining people realize there is a big job to be done. The time to inventory government property, 'clean house,' order packing materials and begin the unenviable task of packin' up is approaching and will be here quicker than "a shake of a dog's tail." 

There is much to accomplish before the wing is officially located in the Sunshine State, which is on tap for July. 

The relocation process has begun and will pick up steam as time rolls along. Like a locomotive leaving the train yard with 100 rail cars in tow - the beginning is at a snail's pace but the further it goes the more speed it gains until it reaches a full head of steam. The wing is beginning to leave the yard and gaining speed. Are you onboard?
Packing of supplies and materials no longer needed at Selfridge has begun and will continue until the job is done, and plans to ship cargo using KC-135s will come to be reality in the not-so-distant future. 

When the completely unexpected, shocking BRAC announcement was received in the spring of 2005 to relocate the 927th Air Refueling Wing to MacDill AFB, Florida to become an associate wing serving with 6 Air Mobility Wing, little was known how greatly it would affect our team of Airmen. 

Yes, believe it or not, it has been nearly three years since the unbelievable and unthinkable decision reverberated throughout the wing. Words like disbelief, betrayal, unimaginable, can't happen, what are they thinking of, only to mention a few, were heard for months from disbelieving Reservists, air reserve technicians and civilian employees.
With the passage of time came acceptance for most individuals but others to this day have not accepted the fact the wing will soon be leaving Selfridge Air National Guard Base, the place they have called 'home' for so many years. 

With all being said, it is time to get busy packing for the future as the train waits for no one. 

Hey buddy, one more packing box over here! Oh, don't forget the packing tape!