Fairchild Airmen experience the "Big Picture" from 20,000 feet above

by Staff Sgt. Alexandre Montes
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

2/28/2014 - FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Ten Airmen from various base agencies were given the opportunity to experience Fairchild's mission during an air refueling flight, Feb. 26, as part of a new incentive program facilitated by the 92nd and 93rd Air Refueling Squadrons.

These Airmen were selected by their leadership as participants in the incentive program, which aims to entice good morale, a sense of purpose and recognition of a job well done.

"I am a maintenance Airman and work on these jets every day," said Airman 1st Class Travis Bostain, 92nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron propulsions systems journeyman and member on the flight. "It's awesome I got a chance to fly in one today and see what our hard work goes into."

With a cold snap in the air, the selected Airmen met up early in the morning. They were escorted to the KC-135 Stratotanker that took them on their first air-refueling journey.

Once onboard, they were introduced to the pilots and boom operators, and given a safety brief. After everyone was familiarized with the safety procedures, it was time to strap in, bundle up and take off.

When the aircraft reached 20,000 feet in the air, the boom operators began taking two Airmen at a time inside the refueling area. One by one, each person was given a chance to operate and receive knowledge on how the air refueling operation is conducted.

"I'm happy the incentive program is back, it helps other Airmen see and experience what all their hard work goes into," said Senior Airman Michael Weidman, 93rd ARS boom operator. "Not everyone gets a chance to see how we operate on a day-to-day basis."

Weidman said he was glad to have the opportunity to show other Airmen on base what a refueling mission is like, and give back a little by teaching them.

Two C-17 Globemaster aircrafts were part of the day's training mission. Because they were training missions, no fuel was exchanged. Each aircraft approached several times to connect and disconnect to the KC-135 for refueling.

Along with watching how refueling worked, the Airmen were also allowed to sit in the cockpit. During this time, they were able listen to all three main working parts of the mission; the pilots, the boom operator and the aircraft, and witnessed how everything worked together.

Now that the incentive program is back in action, there are opportunities for Airmen throughout Fairchild to fly and see the "big picture" of the mission 20,000 feet above in the clouds.

For more information on the Fairchild incentive program, Airmen should contact your first sergeant or commander.