Refueling Relations: COMREL program wins for base, community

  • Published
  • By Staff Reports
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Systems checks were all go.

The crew and passengers strapped themselves in. With the rumbling sound of freedom, Quid 34 infused its engines with 22,000 pounds of thrust and abruptly propelled the enormous 'classroom' from the British soil below.

Classroom?

Yes, classroom.

A Great Heath Primary School teacher and an Imperial War Museum, Duxford, staff member took to the skies on a real-world aerial refueling flight as participants of the 100th Air Refueling Wing's Public Affairs Community Orientation Flight Program Nov. 4.

"Orientation flights are designed to familiarize key groups or community members with information about the 100th ARW mission and the Air Force," said Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace, 100th ARW Community Relations chief. "Orientation flights give them a detailed look at the heart of the base mission and enable them to make balanced decisions in the course of their community work." 

Nearly 100 civic leaders, honorary commanders, local educators, constables and British-American Committee members were selected to fly this year. 

"Chosen groups are essential to positive communication between the base and the local community," said Sergeant Wallace. "They routinely help the base communicate our points on controversial issues and provide important feedback to RAF Mildenhall leadership." 

Groups are flown in conjunction with regularly-scheduled training missions, added Sergeant Wallace.

"No flights are generated for the sole purpose of an orientation," he said.

Orientation Flights are merely one tool Sergeant Wallace's office utilizes to further essential community relations. Last week, they hosted an Honorary Commanders' Deployment Day which provided more than 50 people a first-hand opportunity to experience what Airmen endure prior to a deployment.

The Community Orientation Flight Program is planned well in advance to ensure maximum participation.

"I found out I was selected for an orientation flight about two years ago," said Ruth Cresswell, Great Heath Primary School teacher. "I was very excited but had no idea what was in store for me. This was purely a delightful occasion and one of the best experiences I've had in my life."

Mrs. Cresswell said she's visited the U.S. many times and even enjoyed world-renowned places like Walt Disney World, Fla. Still, she said that in her opinion, the flight aboard a 100th ARW KC-135 Stratotanker and witnessing six RAF Lakenheath-based F-15E Strike Eagles take on gas tops her list of experiences.

Mrs. Cresswell admitted that prior to the orientation flight, she had little-to-no knowledge of what U.S. forces stationed in the United Kingdom actually did.

"All my life I've seen fighter jets and larger jets flying in the skies over England, and never really knew why," said Mrs. Cresswell. "Well, now I have a clear understanding that those jets overhead serve a comprehensible purpose to both the security of the U.K. and U.S. This notion makes me honored to have the U.S. Air Force as my neighbor."

Mrs. Cresswell was not alone in this sentiment. Fellow passenger Stephen Bond of the Imperial War Museum, Duxford, agreed, but said working in a war museum gave him a lot more insight prior to the flight than his fellow passenger.

"It was the professionalism of the Airmen that impacted me the most," Mr. Bond said. "From Sergeant Wallace and the flight surgeon to the pilots and boom operator, everyone involved were world-class ambassadors to the Air Force. Even the vice wing commander, Col. Mike Winters, stopped by before our flight to welcome us. This notion was unprecedented."

Mr. Bond lauded Staff Sgt. Jonathan Brown, 100th Operations Support Squadron boom operator, and Capt. Jake Houston, 351st Air Refueling Squadron pilot, for the extra time and effort both gentlemen spent explaining all aspects of the KC-135 and air-refueling operations.

Though this Community Orientation Flight was only one of many, two more distinguished visitors departed base with a much better understanding of what the U.S. Air Force accomplishes here every day.