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Altus community members spend time in sky

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Paul Dean
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. (AFNS) --  Several weeks after local farmers and businesspeople gave Airmen here a glimpse of their lives in the Oklahoma panhandle neighborhood, the base members returned the favor with a glimpse of the Altus community from a different, elevated level.

By way of the Farm-City Program, a community outreach program developed by Altus AFB leaders and officials from the Altus Chamber of Commerce, Airmen here invited their neighbors to join them on a daily mission.

The view Altus Airmen provided was at 25,000 feet from a refueler and a cargo aircraft. Some of the guests lay in the belly of a KC-135 Stratotanker refueler, looking down on the other group of guests traveling in the receiver aircraft, a C-17 Globemaster III.  Those in the Globemaster peered upward, following the sightline of the refueling boom, meeting the awestruck glances of their friends in the pod above.

"This is just awesome. I can't believe it," said Garret Krier, KSWO Channel 7 reporter out of Lawton, Okla. Mr. Krier was aboard the KC-135 with a videographer. The pair produced a news segment highlighting the mission and base for those in the community who couldn't experience it firsthand.

Guests were welcomed by Col. Stuart Shaw, 97th Air Mobility Wing vice commander, before heading to the flightline. He thanked them for their community tour in October, applauded them for their support of the base and shared how training conducted at Altus AFB directly supports joint efforts of everybody in the military, both those on the ground and in the air.

Each of the guests seemed equally awestruck after his or her experience on the air refueling training mission. Many said it is one they will always remember.

"The whole thing just looks like it takes so much skill," said Ronnie McLean, a guest on the KC-135. "I am just so proud of what you [Airmen] do for us and the country."

The Airmen and civilians working the flight ensured guests were comfortable as they highlighted their role in the mission. Staff Sgt. Doug Boren, a 54th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, became the center of a swarm of people asking questions about everything Air Force as soon as the KC-135 aircraft found smooth air and guests were free to move about the aircraft.

"Anytime I can showcase what we do out here, what we do for the country, is just a great gig," Sergeant Boren said.

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