44 civilian leaders witness airpower

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE MILDENHALL, England (AFPN) --  Forty-four U.S. civic, business and industry leaders witnessed military life June 9 when the Defense Secretary’s 2003 Joint Civilian Orientation Course stopped here for a firsthand look at what the U.S. Air Forces in Europe has to offer.

Hand-picked from more than 6,000 applicants all vying for a place on the tour, the chosen few attended briefings at the Pentagon before heading to Europe.

The leaders came from a wide variety of careers ranging from professors, to a state senator and a corporate vice president.

“The first JCOC was held in 1948 and the purpose of the program is to educate influential members of the civilian public, giving them a basic understanding of what the military does,” said Maj. Cathy Kleifges, 100th Air Refueling Wing deputy chief of plans and programs. “They can then impart that to whoever they come into contact with, in the business world, giving a positive insight to the military.”

The participants were treated to three airpower displays, the first featuring a KC-135 Stratotanker, two F-16 Fighting Falcons and two F-15E Strike Eagles, followed by a tactical air control display of two A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, said Kleifges.

The F-15E and F-16CJ aircraft simulated laser-guided bomb strikes and three C-130 Hercules dropped paratroopers, quad bikes and a Humvee.

During the display, audio conversation could be heard between the controllers and the aircraft they were guiding toward the targets.

Before the display, participants were briefed on the scenario -- Chicago and Seattle had been attacked with weapons of mass destruction. The Air Force had identified the terrorist group and tracked them down to a terrorist training camp in a fictitious country. The base here represented the fictitious country with fighter aircraft securing the area.

The final display featured 14 paratroopers from the 86th Contingency Response Group at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, leaping from a C-130, parachuting to the air field below and hitting their target -- an area marked by a cloud of purple smoke.

Troops then pulled up to the static display area and offloaded equipment from two C-130s.

The course participants were impressed with the displays and their overview and experience of military life.

“This has been absolutely impressive -- it’s a real privilege,” said Victor Hanson, president of The Birmingham News in Alabama.

“Though I’ve never been in the military, I love equipment and stuff; I’m also fascinated with leadership and what it takes to make all this successful,” said Hanson. “When I found out I’d been accepted, I was elated and grateful. I feel very privileged to be able to do this.”

Hanson said he was been extremely impressed with the high level of motivation and education of the armed forces.

“There’s a real sense of how the focus of the military is changing, given the nature of the current conflict. I now have a real appreciation for the joint command,” he said.

Adding that he has always thought highly of the U.S. Air Force, Hanson said he now holds them in even greater esteem.

“Their morale and competency is just superior to what I see in the private sector, he said. “I have the deepest gratitude and appreciation for what the men and women serving in the Air Force are doing.”

“This event has been very impressive and informative. It’s provided a much better understanding of how to address a hostile airport,” said Dick Ewing, Texas A & M University vice president for research. “We’ve established an integrated center for homeland security at (the) university and this will help us enormously --to see what others are doing so we can combine what civilians and military are doing.” (Courtesy of USAFE News Service)