Senator's staffers visit Grissom units

  • Published
  • By By Douglas Hays
  • 434th ARW Public Affairs
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. --  Grissom had the opportunity to break new ground in a sense, as staffers from Sen. Mike Braun’s office came to visit and learn more about what happens on base.

Jon Kenworthy, Braun’s military and veteran’s affairs liaison and field representative, and Jerry Alexander, the senator’s east central regional director, visited Grissom Feb. 5 for a unit mission briefing from the 434th Air Refueling Wing as well as the Army and Marine units station here.

“We’re always happy to host our elected officials and their staff at Grissom,” said Col. Larry Shaw, 434th Air Refueling Wing commander. “We want our elected members to be very familiar with the base, our mission, and the incredible people who serve here.”

Following lunch and the dining facility and an overview of the 434th ARW mission, the staff members, escorted by wing leadership, visited the 316th Psychological Operations Company and were given a mission overview and tour by Sgt. 1st Class Mark Gisler, the company’s noncommissioned officer in charge.

The PSYOPS unit’s mission is to persuade, change, and influence perceptions about the United States and its military abroad.

In a deployed environment, they assess the attitudes of the surrounding population toward U.S. military operations and distribute materials to help create a more positive image.

Following that visit, the group headed over to see Marines in Detachment 1, Communications Company, 4th Marine Logistics Group.

While there 1st Sgt. Phillip Kent, showed the visitors around the facility and shared the company’s mission.

That mission is to establish communications for the other units in a deployed environment.

Afterwards, they got a windshield tour of the base itself, and discussions were held about the future of the base, construction projects that are upcoming and ideas for the future.

“On behalf of Senator Braun it was great to visit and see first-hand what the men and women of the Grissom Air Reserve Base do on a daily basis to prepare for any situation they may face, and we hope to be back soon,” Kenworthy said.

Both Kenworthy and Alexander shared their experience with Senator Braun.

“My Indiana staff have briefed me on the incredible work the men and women of Grissom Air Reserve Base do day-in and day-out to prepare for any threat to our national security we may face, and I look forward to meeting these great folks and seeing this critical base first-hand very soon,” Braun said in a statement.

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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