Let's go flying

Air Force Reserve Maj. John Stone, a 711th Special Operations Squadron pilot, briefs employers moments before they boarded an MC-130E Combat Talon I for a local area flight. Major Stone was the aircraft commander for the flight which capped the 919th Special Operations Wing’s Employer Appreciation Day Oct. 7. The annual event invites civilian employers to see how their reservist “Citizen Commandos” defend America’s interests on a global scale. (U.S. Air Force photo/Adam Duckworth)

Propped up

Flanked by a dismounted engine from a Duke Field MC-130E aircraft, Air Force Reserve Senior Master Sgt. Chester Arrant, 919th Maintenance Squadron, briefs visiting employers on how he and his fellow propulsion flight maintainers perform their jobs. The visit was part of the 919th Special Operations Wing’s Employer Appreciation Day Oct. 7. The annual event invites civilian employers to see how their reservist “Citizen Commandos” defend America’s interests on a global scale . (U.S. Air Force photo/Adam Duckworth)

Aerial shooter

Lieutenant Andrew Williams, an employer with the Santa Rosa County Department of Corrections, takes a photo of the Emerald Coast while flying aboard a Duke Field MC-130E Oct. 7. The local area flight was part of the 919th Special Operations Wing’s Employer Appreciation Day Oct. 7. The annual event invites civilian employers to see how their reservist “Citizen Commandos” defend America’s interests on a global scale. (U.S. Air Force photo/Adam Duckworth)

Employers learn 919th SOW mission with special event

Published Oct. 25, 2010
By Dan Neely
919th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

DUKE FIELD, Fla. -- Reservists at Duke Field's 919th Special Operations Wing rely heavily on support from their civilian employers to help them accomplish their mission. Their support was rewarded recently when the wing held its annual Employer Appreciation Day here Oct. 7.

The half-day event offered invited employers a first-hand look at how their "Citizen Commandos" defend America's interests on a global scale. It also gave the wing and its leadership a prime opportunity to thank the employers for their steadfast support.

The employers began their day with a comprehensive wing mission briefing delivered by Col. Don Buckley, 919th Operations Group commander. The briefing was followed by a tour of the 919th Maintenance Group's propulsion flight, where Senior Master Sgt. Chester Arrant stood in a hangar surrounded by several dismounted MC-130E aircraft engines as he briefed them and fielded questions about their maintenance regimens.

The event was capped off when the employers boarded an MC-130E aircraft for a local area flight for an opportunity to see a 711th Special Operations Squadron aircrew in action.

"The whole experience has just been totally awesome," said Margaret McLemore who wears two hats as a local defense contractor and mayor of the nearby city of Mary Esther. "This has been a great way to spend the morning and we really appreciate Duke Field reaching out to the employers in doing this. I know they're in for a lot of growth now with the F-35 and other things that are happening here and I think that's great."

Another employer, Emil Pagliari, said he was thrilled to discover that one of his reservist employees, Master Sgt. David Hahn, was on board the aircraft as one of its loadmasters.

"He takes his job serious and his job in the Air Force serious, and we've had a lot of talks about what he does," Mr. Pagliari proudly remarked. "I really didn't know (the wing) supported special ops, but when I was briefed about it I was quite impressed and happy."