Civic leaders learn AF Reserve missions

  • Published
  • 919th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
DUKE FIELD, Fla. --  Invited civic leaders from the 919th Special Operations Wing joined their counterparts from the 315th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Charleston, S.C. for a two-day tour of Nellis AFB, Nev. Jan 13-14.

Flown to and from Nellis AFB aboard a massive 315th AW C-17 airlift aircraft, the combined civic leader group received tours of several of the desert base's Reserve and active duty military units. The tour featured a variety of mission briefings, one of which provided a glimpse into the roles of a 919th SOW geographically separated unit - the 2nd Special Operations Squadron -- which operates remotely piloted vehicles via satellite linkups for combatant commanders half a world away.

As a bonus, the tour concluded with a visit to the home of the Air Force's air demonstration squadron, better known as the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. Civic leaders soaked up an opportunity to be flightline spectators for one of the precision flying team's practice sessions.

The tour didn't end on the ground though. During one leg of the trip, the group witnessed reservists from a Charleston-based aeromedical evacuation team hone critical lifesaving skills during several in-flight training scenarios.

Civic leader tours are an Air Force Reserve program designed to increase community leaders' awareness and understanding of reservists' roles in national security by inviting them to witness their mission at various installations.