Wheels of progress

  • Published
  • By Thomas Schmidt
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing
SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. --  As the decision is fast becoming reality, wheels of progress are in motion. 

As dust settles from last year’s Base Realignment and Closure announcement, the 927th Air Refueling Wing’s future realignment with 6th Air Mobility Wing at MacDill AFB is taking giant steps forward. 

Current plans call for the wing’s eight KC-135R refueling tankers to be transferred to the Michigan Air National Guard, with transfer of personnel authorizations to MacDill to be completed by the end of calendar 2008. The Air Force Reserve has been a mainstay of the Selfridge community since 1963. 

Being proactive, wing leadership and 40 key people, led by wing commander Col. Gary Beebe, traveled to MacDill Mar. 9 to personally introduce themselves to their future counterparts. 

Upon the team’s arrival, people hit the ground running and set wheels of progress in motion evaluating base facilities, looking at future construction sites, setting the stage for future integration of personnel and discussing joint usage of aircraft, equipment and facilities. 

The welfare of reservists and civilian employees planning to relocate, and the development of plans for a smooth transition were at the top of the team’s priorities.
Reservists with years of experience are used to working close to their home base. They don’t relish the idea of uprooting and moving hundreds of miles away, said Colonel Beebe. 

Relocation of the wing will expose most of the air mobility wing to the Air Force Reserve for the first time and will present a unique opportunity to develop new working relationships and friendships. 

The formation of an associate wing will be both a growing and a learning experience for the two wings and, with people’s open-mindedness, positive attitudes and teamwork, a successful and seamless transition is on the horizon. 

Eager to show its stuff, the 63rd Air Refueling Squadron flew an integrated two-ship refueling mission along the Atlantic Ocean coastline with 6th AMW to reinforce the ideal of a seamless Air Force. Aircrew professionalism and the well-maintained tanker left a favorable impression with the air mobility wing. 

Col. Raymond Kozak, 927th Operations Group commander, said, "Lt. Gen. Bradley's vision for AFRC people and units to be "unrivaled Wingmen" is a perfect match for what we want operations in the 927th ARW reserve associate unit to become. In fact, we took actual and symbolic steps in that direction with our first example of personnel inter-flying and formation flying during the site visit." 

With the visit considered a huge success, the wheels of progress are moving forward.