Commanders visit deployed Airmen on tail swap

  • Published
  • By Capt. Jason Smith
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST EUROPE --  Two commanders and a chaplain from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England, visited deployed Airmen for a about two hours on March 4, 2013, as part of a KC-135 Stratotanker tail swap.

Lt. Col. Albert Franke, 100th Communications Squadron commander, Maj. Timothy Voruz, 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander, and Chaplain (Capt.) Henry Hahm, 100th ARW, visited Airmen who have been deployed since late January 2013 as part of the 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron.

"I am proud of my cyber Airmen and their ability to adapt quickly in the face of uncertainty," said Franke a San Diego native. "Although we prepared them with some deployable communications equipment like radios and laptops, when they hit the ground, they really didn't know exactly what they were going to need."

Within six hours of arriving, Franke said the deployed 100th CS Airmen were working with the host base communications focal point and United States Air Forces in Europe to complete the final requirements to connect the deployed squadron into the network.

While meeting with the deployed Airmen, Franke took time to make sure they didn't have any issues at home that needed to be addressed. He said the 100th CS has a solid Key Spouse Program to support deployed Airmen families.

"Upon deployment of our Airmen, the 100th CS Key Spouse team went into action to get the names and contact information of the spouses to provide them any support they needed," said Franke.

Voruz, the commander of the biggest squadron in the 100th ARW, in terms of people, visited with Airmen doing a variety of jobs including fuels, supply, support functions, transportation, vehicle maintenance and vehicle operations.

"Our Airmen departed within six hours to go to a location they hadn't been to and do a mission that was different than we currently do," said Voruz, a Saint Jacob, Ill., native. "They have made us proud by supporting each and every requirement with the 'customer service' attitude we live by at the 100th ARW."

Hahm, a Westbury, N.Y., native, spent his short time on the ground speaking with as many Airmen as possible. He said it's important for Airmen to know they can reach out to him or any chaplain anytime.

"Because we are the only ones on base with 100-percent privileged communication, Airmen can talk to us about anything without fear of anyone finding out," said Hahm. "In fact, about 90 percent of the counseling I do is non-religious, non-spiritual in nature. I deal mostly with relationships, workplace issues, marital issues and combat-related issues."

His faith base is Presbyterian, but Hahm said it's important to know that anyone of any belief should be comfortable talking to him.

"I practice according to my faith tradition, but provide for all faith traditions" said Hahm. "I am privileged to be ministering to and assisting the fine men and women of the 351st EARS. Their sacrifice and hard work makes the world where my wife and sons live in safer."

Since the first mission flown to refuel French fighters on Jan. 27, 2013, the 351st EARS has transferred almost 3-million pounds of gas. The air-to-air refueling expands the operational capability of French aircraft by allowing them to remain airborne for extended periods of time.