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Honorary commanders experience total force

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Carrie Peasinger
  • 931st ARG Public Affairs
McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. --  Civic leaders from the Wichita area witnessed the total force initiative first-hand during an orientation flight, Oct. 2.

Thirteen honorary commanders boarded one of the 42 KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft assigned to the 22nd Air Refueling Wing that are piloted and operated by members of the 931st Air Refueling Group. During the flight honorary commanders learned about the Stratotanker's capabilities and met the aircraft's crew comprised of 18th Air Refueling Squadron, pilot Lt. Col. Joe Ocine, co-pilot, Maj. Mike Kleespie and boom operators Staff Sgt. Tracy Ogle and Staff Sgt. Greg Brashier.

After takeoff the crew met up and refueled another KC-135R flown by Maj. Stephen Graham, 18th Air Refueling Squadron. At this time participants, were able to visit the flight deck and the boom pod to watch the refueling process. And after the refueling mission was complete, participants were allowed to operate the boom controls.

"It was certainly a day that I won't forget any time soon," said Roger Weast, President of J.P. Weigand & Sons, Inc. "The flight itself was truly amazing and I was certainly very impressed and enjoyed each and every individual involved in making it all happen, and making it happen so smoothly."

The 931st Air Refueling Group is an Air Force Reserve Command associate unit to the active-duty 22nd ARW. The host unit and the 931st ARG share responsibilities for maintenance, with flying operations conducted by both units, using the inventory of 48 KC-135R Stratotankers.

The intent of the honorary commanders program is to foster a relationship between the military and local civic leaders and strengthen the communities understanding of the mission. It's a mutual support effort allowing commanders and their units to learn about the community in which they live.