Boy Scouts learn valuable lesson from Grissom ARB Published Aug. 16, 2012 By Senior Airman Andrew McLaughlin 434th ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- "Be prepared" is the Boy Scout motto, and as one troop found out Grissom's Airmen are always prepared as well. Boy Scout Troop 229 got a firsthand look at some of the diverse jobs performed at Grissom during a base tour July 25. The first stop on the tour for the scouts was the 434th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment section. There, they learned about the use of aircrew survival gear and the importance of being prepared for any situation. While touring AFE, the scouts saw an emergency life raft along with other survival equipment including tools, food rations and body armor. AFE members also demonstrated how crewmember helmets and oxygen masks are tested before flights and let some of the scouts try them out. Steve McKinney, a scoutmaster for troop 229, said he thought the experience was much more than just a tour because it showed purpose. "It's very beneficial," said McKinney. "It reinforces what we try to teach them." Later in the tour, the troop headed out to the flight line to tour one of the 434th Air Refueling Wing's KC-135R Stratotankers, where pilots and crewmembers showed them around the aircraft and answered their questions. The scouts also got their chance to sit in the pilot's seat and lay in the boom pod where the boom operator conducts aerial refuelings. Ruth Dilts, an assistant scoutmaster, said it's good for the scouts to get hands-on experience because it has more of an impact. "It's really exciting for them," Dilts added. "I've seen a lot of smiles today." The last stop for the Boy Scouts was at the Grissom Fire Department, where two firefighters talked with the scouts about their jobs, gave a tour of the fire station and showed them the fire trucks and equipment they use. The firefighters also gave them a demonstration of a water cannon on a Striker 1500 airport firefighting truck. At the end, Mckinney said he thought the experience was very enjoyable and well worth it. "It was truly a quality educational program for our youth," said McKinney. "There were a lot of benefits to it, and these boys will remember this day for the rest of their lives." Grissom holds tours for groups of 15 or more people. Tour info and request forms can be found on the questions page. Grissom is home to the 434th Air Refueling Wing, the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter.
