4 years in the making

Col. Laen August (left) and Lt. Col. Phil Heseltine (right) sign the memorandum of understanding between the 916th Air Refueling Wing and 911th Air Refueling Squadron in mid-May. August is the commander of the 916ARW and Heseltine is the commander of the 911ARS. (USAF photo by Maj. Shannon Mann, 916ARW/PA, released)

Four years in the making

Published May 22, 2012
916th PUblic Affairs Office

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Four years after the 911th Air Refueling Squadron joined the 916th Air Refueling Wing to form the Air Force's first tanker wing total force integration unit they've finally signed all the paperwork.

In a historical moment on Friday, May 11, 2012 the 916th Air Refueling Wing signed a memorandum of understanding with the 911th Air Refueling Squadron.

Most units operate under a host-tenant agreement, but this normally applies when the governing installation wing provides services to a tenant of the base. Since the 916th is not the host wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, they support squadrons such as the 911th, or the 567th RED HORSE, through paperwork known as an MOU.

A small crowd gathered to watch Lt. Col. Phil Heseltine, commander of the 911th ARS and Col. Laen August, commander of the 916th ARW, put the final touches on the document by signing their names and making it official.