434th ARW fly with civic leaders Published June 26, 2017 434th ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- When it comes to learning, seeing is believing, and for 19 area civic leaders, they saw and learned a lot recently. The 434th Air Refueling Wing hosted a civic leader flight offering local leaders an opportunity to view an aerial refueling mission over the Midwest, June 6, 2017. The members that attended the flight were selected by leadership to experience, what is for most, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “Flights like these are a great way to showcase the 434th ARW,” said Douglas Hays, public affairs operations chief. “We can tell our story, but by sharing the experience with others who can then share their experience the word gets out much further.” The flight also allows members to see first-hand Grissom’s mission. “Currently we’re able to fly civic leaders, media members and employers through the PA process,” Hays said. “Each flight has a purpose to share with taxpayers what capabilities Hoosier Wing Airmen bring to the fight. We love showcasing our people and our aircraft.” The members aboard got a chance to get a feel for the aircraft, see the pilot’s cockpit during flight and witness close up the refueling of a B-52 Stratofortress. “I loved it,” said Zach Schible, Chic-fil-A hospitality coordinator from Westfield, Indiana. “It was an experience of a lifetime and I’m extremely thankful for what our military is doing.” The flight helped better explain the force behind the fight and allowed community leaders to gain a new perspective for the military. “The experience was very beneficial,” said Patrick Flannelly, Lafayette, Indiana police chief. “Many of us have employees that work in all branches of the armed forces, so I think having an opportunity to come out and see what some of them do on a daily basis and the vital roles they play for us, whether they’re in our communities or in the military, I think it is super beneficial to all of us.” The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Men and women from the Hoosier Wing routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission. Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter.
