Clayton and Garner leaders fly-high with Air Force Reserve

  • Published
  • By Maj. Shannon Mann
  • 916th Public Affairs Office
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Nearly 20 Clayton and Garner business and community leaders took the day off in mid-October to learn about a little-known secret only 50 miles away.

On Oct. 18, members of the Clayton Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club and the Town of Garner, joined nearly 40 other business and civic leaders from across the state at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro.

These influential community leaders came together at the invitation of the 916th Air Refueling Wing. The Air Force Reserve wing flies the KC-135R Stratotanker and hosted an orientation flight to help educate community leaders on the mission and people of the Air Force Reserve.

"Inviting community leaders on an air-to-air refueling flight is a way for us to open our doors and allow them to see what reservists in their communities do for national security," said Col. Gregory S. Gilmour, 916th Air Refueling Wing commander. "These folks have a large sphere of influence and it is important that as taxpayers and employers they know what goes on here. Seeing a mission at 20,000 feet is an experience they'll never forget."

The guests watched on-board as three tankers refueled six F-15E Strike Eagles from the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson.

The idea of inviting several members of the Clayton business community was organized by Jim Lee of the Walthom Group. Lee heard a presentation from a 916th representative in early 2012 and thought the wing's civic leader orientation program might be a good idea.

"Business owners are often community leaders," said Lee. "They should understand the major role of reservists for national defense. It helps employers, friends, and neighbors understand how their support of the reservists and reservists' families is also a true role in our national defense system."

For two hours the employers, business and community leaders flew over a tri-state area watching as the fighters received gas to continue on with their training missions.
By the end of the day the wing's Facebook page was alive with chatter from those that had flown earlier.

Rob Smith, Town of Garner Parks, Recreation and Culture Resources office, wrote, "Thank you for an amazing adventure today. Flying with the 916th ARW is something that I will remember for a long time. However, I am more thankful for the service each wing member provides every day protecting freedom."

The 916th Air Refueling Wing hosts two civic leader orientation flights a year, educating roughly 120 business and community leaders.