National Guardsmen support EAA AirVenture

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Cameron Lewis | An F-16 Fighting Falcon, with the 115th Fighter Wing, and a KC-10 Extender, from Travis Air Force Base, California, sit at EAA AirVenture’s Boeing Plaza in Oshkosh, Wisconsin July 28, 2018, for people to view. AirVenture is one of the largest aviation celebrations in the world hosting more than 500,000 aviation enthusiasts from 80 countries.(U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman Cameron Lewis)  

OSHKOSH, WI, UNITED STATES

08.06.2018

Story by Airman Cameron Lewis 

115th Fighter Wing

OSHKOSH, Wis. (July 30, 2018) Approximately 50 citizen Soldiers and Airmen participated in EAA AirVenture here July 23 – 29, to help protect and maintain Department of Defense assets that were performing in the air show.

With over 30 military aircraft on site, the Army and Air National Guard provided support, which included approximately seven security forces Airmen, six military police Soldiers, 16 aircraft maintainers, four fire fighters, and a variety of recruiters.

“This is truly a joint operation with the Army MPs that are assisting this year,” said Master Sgt. Matthew Parco, the security forces flight chief for the event and chief of information protection for the 128th Security Forces Squadron in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

While EAA had its own security, military police are specially trained to protect military assets, said Staff Sgt. James Hill, a security forces Airman with the 183rd Wing in Springfield, Illinois.

Not only are security forces Airmen specifically trained for events like this, but having them here provides them with experiences and opportunities that may not be gained elsewhere.

“Assisting at an event like this as a younger Airman shows my unit that I’m good for the job and ready to work,” said Airman 1st Class Dylan Pop, a security forces Airman with the 183rd.

Having a significant amount of military members in uniform around the grounds and a variety of military aircraft helps represent the armed forces in a positive way.

“Seeing us here makes people feel safer knowing there’s a military presence,” said Tech. Sgt. Ralph Davis, an F-35 Lightning II expediter with the 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Unit from Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. “They see the aircraft and people in uniform and get excited knowing there are people out there to watch over them.”

Some may say that everyone knows there’s a military force protecting them but not many get to meet with the service members and have a conversation, or see the aircraft they fly on a day-to-day basis up close.

“The Navy and the Air Force are some of the biggest aviation forces in the world and this is one of the greatest air shows in the world,” said U.S. Navy Lt. Bryan Weisburg, a weapons systems officer with Strike Fighter Squadron 32 out of Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. “It’s great for us to be here and show our faces and some of the aircraft we get to fly."

With a variety of military aircraft and members here, the event brings both military and civilian aviation enthusiasts together.

“Having the Air Force and other military aircraft here is truly invaluable,” said an EAA member that toured the KC-10 Extender here. “This is gigantic as it generates a love for the aviation community and the military.”

• Date Taken: 08.06.2018
• Date Posted: 08.06.2018 16:19
• Story ID: 287418
• Location: OSHKOSH, WI, US
• Hometown: LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, AZ, US
• Hometown: MADISON, WI, US
• Hometown: SPRINGFIELD, IL, US
• Hometown: TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, CA, US