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434th AFE supports Andrews AFB

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Cali Wetli
  • 434th ARW Public Affairs
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. --  Everyone needs a helping hand from time to time, and for one unit in Maryland, Grissom has been providing just that.

Airmen from the 434th Operations Support Squadron’s aircrew flight equipment flight, are helping to improve mission readiness at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.

The flight is in charge of caring for survival gear such as oxygen equipment, life rafts, survival kits and more. They also provide a large amount of training for the aircrew.

Grissom was asked by Air Force Reserve Command to assist in correcting shortfalls at Andrews.

Grissom in conjunction with AFE teams from, McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, and Westover ARB, Massachusetts, combined to improve Andrew’s AFE unit. The Air Guard was also brought in to help assist.

“We teamed up and got Andrews back to where they needed to be,” said Senior Master Sgt. Michael Pershing, 434th Operations Support Squadron AFE superintendent.

Airmen from AFE weren’t the only 434th ARW members to pitch in and help.

“Our maintenance Airmen also came out, and we frequently relied on people back home to complete our mission,” said Pershing. “We couldn’t have done it without everyone’s support here at Grissom.”

“I have commanders from the other units thank me all the time for the support that we provide them,” said Col. Larry Shaw, 434th Air Refueling Wing commander. “Our AFE team helping Andrews is just one example of the expertise the 434th brings to the table.”

Pershing echoed the colonel’s sentiments and credited Airmen here for that success.

“It has a lot to do with the people here at Grissom,” said Pershing. “The work ethic and dedication that we have here is indescribable.”

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.

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Public Affairs Staff

Material contained on the Official Grissom Air Reserve Base Internet Web Site is written and produced by members of the 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office. The award-winning staff includes:

Ben Mota
Chief, public affairs

Maj. Elias Zani
Public affairs officer

Master Sgt. Wendy Day
Staff writer

Tech. Sgt. Alexa Culbert
Staff writer

Senior Airman Elise Faurote
Staff writer

Senior Airman Benjamin Cowles
Staff writer