Civilian leaders see USAFE capabilities

  • Published
  • By Donna Miles
  • American Forces Press Service
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFPN) --  Civilian leaders participating in the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference got a firsthand, and sometimes hands-on, look here June 8 at how U.S. Air Forces in Europe Airmen support the war on terrorism.

About 50 business, academic and local government leaders nationwide sat in the cockpits of F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft and climbed aboard KC-135 Stratotanker, A-10 Thunderbolt II and C-130 Hercules aircraft.

The civilian leaders watched demonstrations of how Airmen palletize loads, and some tried their hands at securing the pallets within aircraft. Later, they watched 86th Contingency Response Group Airmen conduct an "engine-running offload" similar to one used to open Bashur Air Base in northern Iraq.

Gen. Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong, USAFE commander, called the chance to meet "shakers and movers" from throughout the United States an invaluable opportunity.

"They carry our message for us wherever they go more effectively than anybody I know," he said. "I never miss the opportunity to share the exciting work we do with very influential citizens who leave here and spread the word to their communities about the wonderful things our men and women in uniform are doing."

General Foglesong said there is no better way to introduce civilians to the military than to expose them to the world's best fighting force and its equipment.

"You take somebody and set them in an F-16, and there's a tremendous appreciation of what they put their taxpayer dollars toward," he said. "And they gain an appreciation that we never want to send our sons and daughters into a fair fight. This equipment reflects that unfair fight."

Brig. Gen. Rosanne Bailey, commander of the 435th Air Base Wing here as well as the Kaiserslautern Military Community, said she sees "huge benefits" in supporting the conference.

"What we do is so little understood by the American people," she said. "People know what they see on the … news. What they don't see is the incredible energy and talent and dedication of our young Americans working 12-hour shifts out here every day."

General Bailey said civilians who see this and recognize the critical role America's servicemembers are carrying out gain a unique appreciation of the military.

"When they understand what we do, they become ambassadors for us in the community," she said. "They take the good news about what we are doing home."

General Bailey said her message to the civilian leaders is pretty straightforward: "Meet my people. See what they're doing, and be proud of them."

Climbing out of an F-16 cockpit, Jim Rich, senior vice president of operations for Frito-Lay, raved about "an amazing piece of equipment" and the caliber of the pilots who fly it.

"It takes a lot of training," he said. "It's just amazing how competent these kids are [at] flying these things."

"I'm really impressed with the professionalism I've seen -- not just the officers, but the young enlisted guys, too," said Bob Irish, managing partner for Dynamic Results in Dallas. "They know their stuff, and you can see that they love what they do."