Seven years later; MacDill reservists reminisce on life changing event

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Peter Dean
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing/Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  April 27 is just another day for most, but for some reservists of the 927th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., it means a little more. On April 27, 2008 due to recommendations by the Department of Defense to the Base Realignment and Closure Commission, the 927ARW was relocated from Selfridge, Michigan to MacDill AFB.

"The date I remember is Friday the 13th [May 13, 2005]" said Mrs. Shauna Kenyon, 927 ARW finance technician. "It was the last day of our Unit Training Inspection, and they announced that we were going to be BRAC-ed, we were in shock and disbelief."
Although all members were encouraged to transfer to MacDill AFB and remain with the wing, it was just not feasible.

"About 80 members stuck it out and transferred" said Master Sgt. Albert Anthony, 927 ARW chief of force development. "A shuttle was set up on UTAs [Unit Training Assembly] to fly TRs [Traditional Reservists] down from Selfridge; a clearing house was also set up to find TRs and full-timers new jobs with other wings throughout the states."

In addition to being ready to defend ones country at a moment's notice, the reservists were now being asked to uproot their family and relocate, or endure a 3,400 mile round trip once a month.

"It was a tough decision, my wife was in school, our kids were in school, we had friends and family, we were established, it was tough on all of us," said Master Sgt. Christopher Cassabon, 927th Security Forces Squadron, anti-terrorism officer.

Even with just a skeleton crew, the 927 ARW didn't waste any time recruiting qualified individuals, after just 15 months the Wing was fully functional again and deployment ready. To date the 927th continues to support operations throughout the world, to include Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation New Dawn, Operation Unified Response and Operation Inherent Resolve.

"It was a good decision, we miss family, but we have had a lot of good opportunities down here," said Cassabon. "There are parts of Michigan we miss and always will, but with only a two and a half hour flight we are able to visit family and they are able to come and 'vacation' down here, it was a good decision."