Weekend Trip: McConnell teamwork helps new Airmen see mission up close

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jason Schaap
  • 931st Air Refueling Group Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Birthdays came a little early this year for Airman 1st Class Matt Rourk, 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and Airman Timothy Lollis, 22nd Communications Squadron.

They were among 29 active-duty Airmen who flew with a Reserve KC-135 Stratotanker crew on an aerial refueling mission, Jan. 10, here. Because Airmen Rourk and Lollis had birthdays in January, they were offered two seats available in the cockpit during takeoff. Both Airmen gladly accepted.

"This is my first ride in a government plane," Airman Rourk said. "I'm loving it."

The flight also marked a first for the 931st Air Refueling Group, an Air Force Reserve unit, and the 22nd Air Refueling Wing, the 931st's active-duty host unit at McConnell Air Force Base.

A 22nd ARW program gives its newest enlisted Airmen the opportunity to fly in a KC-135 and learn about aerial refueling, the primary mission at McConnell. Col. James Vechery, 22nd ARW commander, instituted the program when he arrived at McConnell in February, 2008.

However, the high operations tempo for the Air Force's KC-135s created a backlog of new Airmen who hadn't seen a refueling first-hand. As a solution the 22nd ARW requested total-force support during the 931st ARG's January drill weekend .

The request took some logistical work, Lt. Col. Tony Brusca, 18th Air Refueling Squadron pilot, admitted, but he said the flight was an absolute "win-win" for all involved, especially for his young passengers. Colonel Brusca was the team commander during the total-force mission.

"[I'm surprised] this program didn't exist before," the colonel said, proudly surveying the enlisted Airmen from his seat as the tanker they were in gained altitude.

In a nearby seat, Airman 1st Class Joel Williamson, 22nd Maintenance Squadron, later sat with his digital camera looking at photos and video he took during the Saturday morning flight. Many hours prior, he and other passengers climbed out of bed early on their day off and reported by 6 a.m. for preflight briefs.

"I wasn't too excited about that," said Airman Williamson, "but it was worth it."

"As an incentive flight, it really serves its purpose," Airman 1st Class Richard Christensen, 22nd Maintenance Operations Squadron. "It gets you excited about your job. You get to see what you are part of."