101st Air Refueling Wing Meets With CODEL

Photo By Master Sgt. Andrew Sinclair | Colonel Ian Gillis, 101st Air Refueling Wing Commander, meets with the Military Liaisons from Senator Susan Collins' office to discuss current events involving the wing. The visit was part of a multi-day trip to our nation's capitol that allowed our MAINEiacs to meet with state leaders to discuss topics involving the KC-46, recruiting, and KC-135 modifications.  

UNITED STATES

10.18.2022

Story by Master Sgt. Andrew Sinclair 

101st Air Refueling Wing

101st AIR REFUELING WING, Me. (October 20th, 2022) – This week the MAINEiacs flew down to Washington D.C. to visit Maine’s Congressional Delegations (CODELs); an effort brought on with a goal in mind to share information on all things regarding the 101st Air Refueling Wing’s aspirations of gaining the KC-46 Pegasus, the Arctic mission, KC-135 modifications, etc.

Wing leadership have been working with state leadership on these topics for some time now, solidifying an already outstanding relationship developed in the years past. The offices of both Senator Collins and Senator King understand the importance and added value the great state of Maine can provide by gaining the new refueling airframe; replacing the KC-135 Stratotanker in the world's greatest tanker unit after over 60 years of service.

Colonel Ian Gillis is the 101st Air Refueling Wing Commander and led the trip to D.C. “We started down this road over a year ago, establishing a background for not only the National Guard Bureau but our CODELs. Really building a relationship that helps us both understand that this is a team effort in obtaining not only a new airframe but a new mission set as well,” said Colonel Gillis. “This was our third trip down to visit and we really wanted to hit home how important this is to the National Defense Strategy and how Bangor fits into all of this strategically and soundly”.

Gaining the new arctic mission would open a new book of opportunity for the Wing, expanding an already outstanding repertoire to the swiss army knife that is the 101st. Our Airmen have been involved with every major mission set the United States has partaken in since the 1940’s, adding the Arctic mission set would further diversify our MAINEiacs by allowing them to operate in yet another corner of the globe. The KC-46 based in Bangor would provide the increased operational capability the Wing would need to operate in the arctic. Bangor is of course an ideal strategic location for this new mission set.

KC-135 modification projects were another hot topic discussed among the MAINEiacs and the congressional military liaisons, exploring ideas to make our already bulletproof jet more versatile in today’s fight. This summer the 101st partnered with medical professionals from Northern Light Health to learn how to utilize the Stratotanker in casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) operations. This would allow our jets to take on an additional mission set, supplementing the already established ability our tankers have to transport casualties and cargo from an AOR to a designated patient care location.

“When we’re all in line, that’s a really good thing. From the lowest ranking Airman all the way up through Wing leadership, General Farnham and I would even say the CODELs, we’re all striving for the same thing and I would say that’s very important,” said Colonel Gillis. “And that’s really what this trip was about, learning from each other and comprehending what we can do on our end to help show that we are a strategic location with global impacts.

Recruiting, retention, mission sets, funding, and projected construction projects were also discussed in regards to future mission sets. It was a very productive trip and the 101st ARW leadership is grateful to have spent time with their friends in our nation’s capital.

• Date Taken: 10.18.2022
• Date Posted: 10.25.2022 10:49
• Story ID: 431966
• Location: US