Senator Todd Young visits Grissom

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Katrina Heikkinen
  • 434th ARW Public Affairs
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. --  Grissom often makes a great impression and June 15 was no exception as Sen. Todd Young came to visit.

A Hoosier for more than 20 years, Young’s slogan – ‘How can I help? – rang true during his hands-on tour of the base, which started with an initial mission briefing. Young then had the opportunity to get an overview of the KC-135R Stratotanker cockpit simulator with Lt. Col. Brian Thompson, 434th Operations Group chief of standardization and evaluation.

The sentiment, ‘Once a Marine, always a Marine,’ rang true for the senator. A Marine veteran, graduate of the United States Naval Academy and former captain, the senator also had opportunity to meet with Marines of Detachment 1, Communications Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 45, 4th Marine Logistics Group at Grissom as they performed weapons training at the firing range.

Young represents the state of Indiana and serves on the senate committees on foreign relations; health, education, labor and pensions; commerce, science and transportation; and small business entrepreneurship. With an emphasis on working with Grissom and increasing its capabilities to ensure its future, Young reiterated his support for the base.

“The object here is we want to help however we can,” Young said. “If there’s one message to take home it’s that I’m here to help Grissom.

“We were thrilled to host Senator Young and his staff,” said Douglas Hays, 434th ARW public affairs operations chief. “Anytime we can tell the story of our Citizen Airmen and share our mission with our elected officials, that’s a positive for our base.”

The visit finished with a KC-135R Stratotanker static display and meeting with 434th Maintenance Group personnel.

“I think Senator Young left with a better understanding of the base, our mission and our needs,” Hays said. “He kept asking how he can help, and that’s a great sign.”

The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. The Citizen Airmen from the Hoosier Wing routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission.

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