FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. - More than 15 civic leaders with the base’s Honorary Commander program took flight Nov. 12, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. The orientation flight gave Spokane-area civic leaders an opportunity to witness the mission firsthand.
The purpose of the Honorary Commander program is to partner with and educate influential members of the community - like business leaders, chamber of commerce members and others - on the similarities and differences of military and civilian operations. The program brings together leaders from the military and civilian communities in an informal program designed to continue to foster mutual understanding and establish bonds of friendship.
“The Honorary Commander program is an awesome program,” said David Condon, mayor of Spokane and 92nd Air Refueling Wing honorary commander. “It allows people in the community to get a full understanding of the mission and the great work Fairchild Airmen do.”
During the flight, the honorary commanders observed a KC-135 Stratotanker, flown by Col. Brian McDaniel, 92nd ARW commander, refuel a C-17 Globemaster from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. They were able to lay beside Staff Sgt. Gregory Albers, 93rd Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, during refueling, as well as view another refueling mission from the cockpit of a different KC-135 and C-17.
“It’s extremely important to give insight to people in the community on the complexity of what it takes to support the nation,” said Ryan Carstens, Spokane Community College president and 92nd ARW honorary commander. “My favorite part [of the flight] was the professionalism of all the Airmen.”
The honorary commanders were free to observe the mission from various points on the aircraft, talk with the boom operators about the mission and sit on the flight deck with McDaniel, Maj. William Morse, 93rd ARS instructor pilot, and Capt. Christophe Fei, 93rd ARS pilot.