Kokomo Boy Scouts tour Grissom Published June 11, 2015 By Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Mota 434th ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- "Being prepared" is the motto Boy Scouts live by, and prepared they were as they ventured with open minds and a willingness to learn Grissom's ways. Boy Scout Troop 570 from Kokomo, Ind., got a firsthand look at a KC-135R Stratotanker and its mission during a tour here June 10. The first stop for the scouts was the 434th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aerospace propulsion shop. Here scouts learned how propulsion specialists complete routine inspections, maintenance and repairs on the wing's 64 aircraft engines and 32 auxiliary power units. "The propulsion shop guys were really great with the kids," said retired Col. John Salmon, assistant scout master. "They were very patient, and the kids were really fascinated by the engines and how they worked." Afterwards, the troop headed out to the flight line to tour a 434th Air Refueling Wing's KC-135R, where pilots and crewmembers showed them around the aircraft and answered their questions. "The kids really enjoyed the aircraft, and the aircrew were amazing," explained Salmon. "All the kids had questions and they really went out of their way to answer whatever the kids asked." 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 refueling. "After the tour at least half of the kids said they wanted to join the Air Force when they're older," said Salmon. "This really was a great experience for them." Grissom holds tours for groups of 15 or more people. Tour info and request forms can be found on the questions page of the unit web site. The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Airmen and aircraft from the 434th ARW routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission and U.S. strategic objectives. Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter.
