434th STF Airmen take flight, see 'big picture' Published Oct. 29, 2010 By Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner 434th ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Members of the 434th Seasoning Training Flight recently took to the skies to witness an in-flight refueling mission between one of Grissom's KC-135R Stratotankers and a C-17 Globemaster III from the 437th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Charleston, S.C. "Regardless of their jobs, the mission of the (434th Air Refueling Wing) is to refuel aircraft, and it takes people from around the wing to make that happen," said Master Sgt. Jim Malloy, 434th STF first sergeant. "This gives seasoning trainees an overview of how they fit into the big picture." The 434th STF is part of the Air Force Reserve Command's Seasoning Training Program, which is designed to build a ready force by allowing recent technical training school graduates to voluntarily remain on active duty for on-the-job training. Many of the participants had not flown on a refueling mission before. "It was very exciting and educational," said Senior Airman Chassity Howieson, a logistics planner with the 434th Logistics Readiness Squadron who is on seasoning training orders. "I had no idea what I was in for and the boom (operator) gave us a lot of insight about how things are done and what it takes." And, that perspective is exactly what the orientation portion of the flight was designed to do. "If you're an admin troop, you see the pilot whose orders you processed; if you're a maintenance person, you see your hard work in flight," said Sergeant Malloy. "Everyone is part of the 434th ARW and this gives them a deeper connection to the Wing and the mission." As for Airman Howieson, she's thankful for the opportunities she's received through the seasoning training program. "Air Force Seasoning Training has given many Airmen opportunities to enhance their experiences and training at levels that may otherwise never happen," she said. "I've learned more about my job than now than I did in the past three years as a traditional reservist." Stay connected, join the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter
