100th LRS celebrates its civilians

by Gina Randall
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

3/9/2015 - RAF MILDENHALL, England  -- The 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron honored its civilian personnel with an appreciation day Feb. 27, 2015.

"Our civilians uphold a critical role in what we do on a day-to-day basis, from stepping up to fill in for the Airmen when they leave, to adapting to different leaders that constantly change, so the 100th LRS held a Civilian Appreciation Day event," said Staff Sgt. DeAlex Harrell, 100th LRS KC-135 Stratotanker Weapons System Fusion Cell supervisor from St. Paul's, North Carolina.

The squadron acknowledges that the civilians provide continuity in the ever-changing Air Force world.

"We wouldn't be able to work or operate at such a high level without the support of our civilian personnel," Harrell said. "Our civilians mean a lot to our squadron and we're trying to show them through coordinating an event just for them."

The participants made the most of the day. They were able to meet base personnel they may only speak with on the telephone, and see areas of the base they never knew about.

"It's great to get out from behind the desk and have the opportunity to see parts of RAF Mildenhall you wouldn't normally see," said Gemma Mayhew, 100th LRS facilities manager from Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. "I especially loved the military working dog display; we were so lucky to get the chance to watch them at work and to see what a rapport they seem to have with their handler. It was truly amazing."

Squadron leadership wanted to show the civilians what other units on base do so they can better understand their role in the wing's mission. The tour included a look at the fuel section, a fire truck viewing, a mobility bag demonstration, a military working dog display and a static KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft.

"We have some civilians that have been here for many years and they have yet to see the inside of a KC-135 Stratotanker," the weapons system fusion cell supervisor said. "When we asked them how we could show how much we appreciate them, a tour of the KC-135 was at the top of the list. I focused on the KC-135 because the 100th LRS plays one of the biggest parts in keeping this aircraft in the air. For our civilians to see up close what they're impacting would help them grasp the concept of how important they are -- that's big."

Military members were on hand to inform the civilians of any information about their role in the mission. Some civilians are new to the base or the military, so for them the event allowed a firsthand experience of what their military family does each day.

"The Civilian Appreciation Day gave me the opportunity to see the individual parts of the squadron," said Monika Skor, 100th LRS commander's secretary from Kysucke Nove Mesto, Slovensko. "I now have a better understanding of my squadron and I truly appreciate the Airmen's work, which is often very hard. It was a very interesting experience for me and I am very pleased that I was part of it. Thank you to our commander, Maj. Michael Boswell."

The organizers were pleased with how the day went, and how it brought people together.

"The day allowed civilians and military members to come together and share a common interest -- the best Air Force the world has ever seen," Harrell said.