Airmen see importance of mission firsthand

by Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

3/27/2014 - FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Airmen from across the base took part in an incentive flight March 26 designed as an opportunity for pilots and boom operators to show other Airmen the importance they play in fueling the fight for freedom.

"Incentive flights show how they helped us get to this point," said Airman Carrie Vaughn, a 92nd Air Refueling Squadron boom operator who hails from Weeping Water, Neb. "Everyone behind the scenes takes part in getting the gas to our fellow jets."

Vaughn, along with two other boom operators and two pilots, showed 14 Airmen from across the base their trade and how vital every Airman is to getting the 92nd Air Refueling Wing's fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers where they're needed most.

After a few literal ups and downs and many circles across the sky, these incentive flyers experienced a taste of a refueling crew's life.

With a successful connection made to a KC-10 Extender from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., the mission begins. Everything Fairchild Airmen do culminates in boomers making contact with other aircraft, Vaughn explains why this is important and how it makes her feel to be a part of such a critical element of air power.

"It makes me feel like I'm [we're] really making a difference," she said. "I feel responsible to get the job done safely because of all the hard work every other Airman has put forward."

From maintenance and mission support to survival training and medical, every Airman plays a critical role in the mission's successful completion. Airman 1st Class Andres Gutierrez-Gonzalez talks about how tremendous it was to see the mission firsthand.

"It feels great to be able to see the mission being accomplished for myself," said the 92nd Medical Operations Squadron mental health technician and native of San Luis, Ariz. "After a while, people stop seeing the impact they have and lose their sense of purpose when it comes to doing things behind the scenes."

Gutierrez-Gonzalez said its opportunities like these that bring things back into perspective and make every sacrifice worth it. Echoing the medic, a 92nd Communications Squadron cyber transport journeyman said he's been a part of the Fairchild mission for roughly four years and appreciates the chance to see how what he does supports the base's primary focus.

"It is interesting to see the flying mission in action," said Staff Sgt. Josh Domke, a Pleasanton, Texas, native. "We always hear about the refueling mission and how we impact it, but seeing it happen really puts things into perspective."

Senior Airman Christopher Brindley, a 92nd CS network operations technician from Spokane, Wash., added that being able to be a part of this mission is very rewarding.

"What we do affects operations worldwide and having experienced that now is very special," Brindley said.

When asked how the firsthand experienced impacted his morale, Brindley humbly said that morale is really what you make of any situation explaining that when morale is high, it's contagious.