Airmen brought current and future
operations to the historic Strategic Air and Space Museum in Omaha
NE, Aug. 13 as part of Air Force Week in the Heartland. At a venue
famous for Gen. Curtis LeMay exhibits, numerous aircraft and the
home base for looking back at the Air Force's former Strategic Air
Command, Airmen greeted lively crowds with information, stories and
insight to what today's servicemembers bring to the fight.
The event is one of many planned happenings during Air Force
Week in the Heartland, a week-long schedule in the Omaha area aimed
at showcasing the Air Force, its people and multiple missions with
the local community. "We're focusing on the legacy of airpower,"
said Capt. Vierira de Souza, the event director. "We have the
legacy, we have the present and we're also talking about the
future."
Visitors entering the museum saw a large display of Air Force
Week contest winners from school students, ranging from
kindergarten through 12th grade showcasing support of the service.
From there, visitors were treated to an Air Force Space Command
display, linguistics team presentations, flight simulators, the Air
Force chopper, an intercontinental ballistic missile presentation,
a Pratt and Whitney F100 engine used in the F-16 Fighting Falcon
and even a mini F-22 Raptor. These are just a small sample of the
many displays and demonstrations giving people of all ages
something to see.
The Air Force Honor Guard drill team was on hand to provide an
exhibition of skill and precision. Members of the 819th RED HORSE
Squadron from Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., brought in some
heavy equipment to show visitors some of their tools of the trade.
Touting runway repair equipment that can fix battle-damaged
runways, large structure-building machines, trucks, bulldozers and
cranes, the specialized civil engineers fielded a barrage of
questions on infrastructure for an air base.
"A lot of questions we get is what's the difference between the
Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve and the active duty
and Air National Guard," said Master Sgt. Alden Harriman, an
in-service recruiter with the 170th Group at Offutt AFB, Neb., who
clarified questions from the crowds throughout the day. Community
support with the Guard is important to people living in the
Heartland, Sergeant Harriman said.
"A lot of times we're known as the hometown Air Force. We have
deep ties with the community," he said. "Today it's awareness with
the public to show them all aspects of the Air Force, since it is a
total force, and to bring that awareness that we're all interwoven.
We all have the same rank structure, the same type of training --
one's just more of a part-time component, as opposed to a full-time
component."
Airmen from Offutt AFB were on-hand with aircrew flight
equipment displays, demonstrating the life sustaining items used
aboard the RC-135 Rivet Joint and E-4B National Airborne Operations
Center aircraft that supports the president, secretary of defense
and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Brenda Anderson, whose husband
serves on active duty with the Navy said she got a lot out of
talking to the Airmen and seeing all the displays.
"Since it's Air Force Week, (the kids) said, 'We have to go to
the air and space museum' and here we are," said Mrs. Anderson of
Papillion, Neb. "I think it's a neat insight to Air Force
operations, since we're Navy and we live the navy life. To be
stationed here and get to see it in further detail is great."
Offutt AFB medical teams from the 55th Medical Group showed off
some of their special equipment, while making some of the younger
visitors smile.
"We get to mix in with the kids and the crowds and they get to
see what we do on a daily basis," said Master Sgt. Dean Landry, the
medical systems flight noncommissioned officer in charge who helped
visitors try on medical gear and blew-up latex gloves like balloons
for children to make the medical side of the mission a little more
interesting. Sergeant Landry's display was a rapid response trailer
used in responding to a mass casualty scenario, where medical teams
augment it with manning and supplies. The trailer can then be used
as a hub for triage and treatment of approximately 300 patients
over a 24-hour period.
"I love being out here letting the people come through and see
what the medical field is all about in the Air Force," said Master
Sgt. Shane Doxzon a 55th Medical Group personal responsibility
program manager. "I'm a critical care tech, so this is fun." The
medical group Airmen also setup a full decontamination station,
allowing visitors to view the inner workings of a field unit that
can be set up in as little as 15 minutes.
"We wanted to make sure people see our equipment and understand
our capabilities," said Capt. (Dr.) Katy Garver, the 55th Medical
Group decontamination team chief. "People pretty much understand
this is just a big shower we use to get people clean before we
treat them."
"I think the kids have enjoyed seeing a different side of the
military," Mrs. Anderson said. "It's a nonthreatening environment,
considering what the military is all about." [ANN Salutes Capt.
Nicholas J. Sabula, Air Force News Agency]