MacDill AFB citizen Airmen host Alabama civic leaders

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Peter Dean
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing/Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The 927th Air Refueling Wing here, played host to more than two dozen civic leaders, opinion formers and local businessmen associated with the 908th Airlift Wing, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, April 23-24.

Upon arrival to MacDill AFB, the civic leaders received a welcome and 927 ARW mission brief by Col. Randal Bright, 927 ARW, commander.  Following the brief, the civics toured the 927th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron's fabrication shop.

"A lot of these vendors [of KC-135 parts] have gone onto other projects, they no longer make these parts," said Mater Sgt. Terry Willis, 927 AMXS, fabrication flight chief. "Often we find we have to manufacture parts that used to be available through the supply system."

Now knowing how the parts are fabricated, the next stop was out to a KC-135 Stratotanker, where the civics were able to climb aboard for a firsthand look and conversation with aircrew members.

"Interesting how our Reserve interacts with the active duty military, it's pretty phenomenal," said Mayor Kenneth Boswell, City of Enterprise, Alabama. "I see it as getting our biggest bang for the buck, taking our everyday workingman and integrating them into our active duty force and being able to immediately protect our homeland." 

The civics then joined and mingled with local Tampa area businessmen and opinion formers at a reception hosted by the Tampa Chamber of Commerce.

Prior to 'wheels up' the next day the civics received a full morning of informative briefings from both the United States Central Command and the United States Special Operations Command, both located on MacDill AFB.

'It's been wonderful, Colonel Bright and his team welcomed us wonderfully here to MacDill Air Force Base," said Col. Adam Willis, 908 AW commander. "We have had a pleasurable stay, and I look forward to hosting you and your civic leaders in the future."