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108th CE Deploys To SWA

Twenty-two journalists from 17 countries visited the 108th Air Refueling Wing Aug. 30.
The visit preceded a trip by the journalists to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, where they toured the National Museum of the United States Air Force and learned more about the operations of the U.S. Air Force.

Journalists are briefed during their visit to the 108th Air Refueling Wing. Photo courtesy 108ARW/PA.

Inside the wing conference room, representatives from the 305th Air Mobility Wing, 514th Air Mobility Wing, 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force/621st Contingency Response Wing, and the Secretary of the Air Force/Public Affair’s office, accompanied Lt. Col. Robert Doolittle, 108th ARW Vice Commander, as each briefed the journalists on their respective missions. The floor was opened up to a question-and-answer session after each briefing, in which reporters asked questions on topics such as the KC-135E Stratotanker’s ability to operate in harsh environments, and perceived public sentiments on the recent Lebanese repatriation efforts.

After a break, the journalists jumped on a bus and headed out for a tour of the 305th AMW’s KC-10 Extender. There, they got to examine the plane inside and out and also conduct a couple of interviews with 305th AMW personnel. Immediately following the static display, the journalists were taken to a KC-135E for the flight to Wright-Patterson AFB.

A briefing from the Air Force Materiel Command was first up upon arrival at Wright-Patterson, followed by a tour of the Air Force Security Assistance Center. A tour of the Air Force Museum rounded out their busy day.

The next day, after a breakfast, the reporters visited the Aeronautical Systems Center and attended a lunch where they got to sit down and talk to Airmen at Wright-Patterson AFB. The Air Force Research Laboratory was their last stop at Wright-Patterson before they returned that evening.

“(The) journalists had favorable comments about the trip,” said Maj. John Thomas, Foreign Press Center, in the after action report on the visit, adding, “Cooperation of all Air Force agencies and the access they were willing to provide made this trip a real success.”

The 108th Air Refueling Wing’s Men’s Open Softball team placed second in the 41st Annual Softball Tournament held at McGee-Tyson Air Force Base, Tenn., August 16-20. The co-ed team placed twelfth in the tournament, and the women’s team, which was half 108th players and the rest from the 177th Fighter Wing, placed seventh. Photo courtesy 108ARW/PA.

Senior Airman Robert Finley (left) and Tuskegee Airman Maj. (Ret) Bertram Levy (right) pose for photo during McGuire Air Force Bases' celebration of the Air Force's 59th birthday on Sept. 23. Photo by 2nd Lt. April Kelly, 108ARW/PAO.

 

 

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Volume 32 Number 5
Staff / Information
     
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