News

Honorary commanders get behind the scenes look at Robins’ missions

  • Published
  • By Amanda Creel
  • 78 ABW/PA
For many members of the community, there are areas at Robins that seem untouchable. These areas are similar to a secured fortress, where only those who work inside ever cross the threshold, but on June 16, 11 honorary commanders were given the chance to cross that threshold. They were taken behind the scenes and given a closer look into Robins' missions.

Tom Gibbons, the 78th Mission Support Group honorary commander, said touring Robins helped him have a better understanding of the diversity of the missions on the base.

"There is a lot more than airplane maintenance and supply storage going on here," said Mr. Gibbons, the vice president of investments for UBS Wealth Management.

He added he was impressed with the remarkable talent of all of Robins Airmen -- civilian and military alike.

The tour was given to members of the Honorary Commander's Program, a program designed to cultivate and preserve relationships with the Middle Georgia community by pairing members of the local community with base commanders. The program gives them opportunities to get a closer look at units' missions and interact with members of the base community.

"We need to do that to foster and maintain these excellent community relationships we have," said Col. Patrick Higby, commander of the 78th Mission Support Group.

He added it was especially important in light of the recent leadership changes in the Air Force, to make sure the Air Force story is being told and Airmen are getting credit for their role in the war on terror.

"It helps us break the perception that the Air Force is not doing anything in the war on terror," Colonel Higby said.

One of the stops on the tour was the 542nd Combat Sustainment Group's Electronic Warfare facility.

As the honorary commanders entered the facility, they were shown some of the many threats to our armed forces the unit helps defeat each day, such as SA-16 Gimlet and SA-11 Godfly, which are both infrared heat seeking missiles and the SA-8 Gecko, a radio frequency missile.

Lt. Col. Keith Bearden, deputy commander of the 542nd CBSG, explained these missiles were hung on the wall and displayed throughout the inside of the building to remind members of the electronic warfare team of the importance of their role in the global war on terror.

"We have these out here to remind us our job is to make sure these missiles don't work," Colonel Bearden said.

Maj. Gen. Tom Owen, commander of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, explained the mission of the group with an analogy. He asked the honorary commanders to envision driving down the highway and passing a patrolman going 95 miles an hour when the speed limit is 65. He then compared electronic warfare to a good radar detector.

"If you have a good electronic warfare system, his radar is going to say you are going 65 miles an hour," General Owen said.

Another stop on the tour was Warrior Air Base, where honorary commanders were given a demonstration of some of the wartime skills that Robins was tested on during the Operational Readiness Inspection in April.

Airmen from throughout the 78th Air Base Wing and 653rd Combat Logistics Support Squadron showed off the skills that earned the base an excellent rating in the recent operational readiness inspection. The scenario for the demonstration was a mortar attack in a deployed environment. The Airmen demonstrated how they would protect and secure the base and how they would treat injured Airmen.

"I enjoyed the demonstration at WAB showing them being attacked and how they handled themselves," said Jenice Tarr, honorary commander of the 330th Aircraft Sustainment Group.

After the demonstration, the honorary commanders were given a chance to shoot some of the same weapons used during the demonstration such as the M-16 rifle and an M-4 Carbine.

Chuck Shaheen, a Purdue Pharmaceutical representative and an honorary commander for the WR-ALC, said seeing all of the different missions and having an opportunity to meet and greet some of the Airmen made him realize how important each member of the Robins' workforce is to winning the war on terror.

Additional stops on the tour included a tour of an F-15E Strike Eagle, where honorary commanders got to see inside the cockpit and were given a walk-around tour of the aircraft.

"I am amazed at the complexity that is there," said Lowell Register, honorary commander for the 78th ABW and a trained recreational pilot. "It's hard to imagine what it is like to operate all those different controls."

The honorary commanders received a mission briefing about the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center and a briefing from the members of the 330th Aircraft Sustainment Wing.

The men and women were also treated to a demonstration by some of Robins' military working dogs and their handlers before they were treated to lunch at the Wynn Dining Hall where many of Robins' Airmen dine each day.