Commander shows civic leaders a different side of the Air Force

  • Published
  • By Josh Aycock
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Col. Bradley D. Spacy, 88th Air Base Wing commander, hosted more than 25 local civic leaders on a tour of Lackland Air Force Base's 37th Training Wing May 7-8 to highlight the intensive training that goes into creating today's warrior Airmen. 

The civic leader group was comprised of a wide variety of specialties from across the Dayton region including: business owners, chiefs of police, council members, commissioners, mayors and many others. 

"Today we are fighting as joint warfighters and joint partners with our sister services, and Airman training has changed dramatically in just the last few years; I think it is important that people see that," said Colonel Spacy. "The new Airmen that live among our civic leaders in the communities around Wright-Patt aren't the Airmen they saw ten years ago." 

The tour kicked off with the civic leaders boarding a KC-10 Extender to get a first-hand look at how the Air Force operates in the sky. They were briefed on the KC-10 mission and observed how air refueling boom operations are capable of delivering over 300,000 pounds of fuel. 

"When you see that dedication it really brings home how important my job is and the freedom they provide me in doing that job," said Phyllis Howard, Beavercreek City Council member. 

At Lackland AFB, Texas, the civic leaders experienced the full spectrum of training a new recruit receives while at Basic Military Training. In over 100-degree heat, the tour felt and saw exactly the conditions Airmen train in at the Basic Expeditionary Airmen Skills Training site, a realistic complex that gives Airmen the sights, sounds and emotions of operating in a deployed joint environment. The BEAST was added in December to help provide combatant commanders better trained Airmen. The enhanced training extended the traditional Air Force BMT from 6.5 weeks to 8.5 weeks. 

"I think it is vital for everyone in the public to know what we are doing here," said Master Sgt. James Woods, 37th TRW's training NCO. "These are their children, their grandchildren and their neighbor's children that will be coming out here to do this training." 

The group also took part in weapons training, receiving both virtual combat convoy training and hands-on experiences with an M-249 automatic rifle and M-203 grenade launcher that Airmen frequently handle in the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility. 

"They've changed the way they train -- clearly they're training our young men and women that enter the military to be war fighters first," said Rick Perales, Greene County commissioner. "It's been an eye opener for all the community people here on this trip, and it is impressive." 

The 37th Training Wing, the largest training wing in the Air Force, graduates over 86,000 students a year. While on the tour, the Wright-Patt area civic leaders witnessed nearly 700 of those students as they recited the Airman's Creed and raised their hands while swearing the oath of enlistment, having earned the right to be called Airmen. 

"I had no idea that the Air Force was doing all of this to get enlisted Airmen ready for war situations," said Kent Owsley, local Air Force Association president. "I think the type of character they have, and intestinal fortitude that they showed in the field made me feel good to be an American."