Tankers don't just fly, they recruit

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Terrica Jones
  • 916th Public Affairs Office
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  The 916th Air Refueling Wing has several missions.

One mission is to routinely refuel aircraft using the KC-135 Stratotanker. The KC-135 is also used for several other tasks on a global scale, to include medical evacuations, but another mission the tanker supports is recruiting.

Wednesday, July 7th, seven Air Force Academy cadets and eight Tar River Civil Air Patrol cadets received an opportunity to witness the 916th's refueling mission first hand.

Before embarking on an experience they would always remember, Col. Randall A. Ogden, 916th ARW commander, welcomed the cadets to the Reserve wing. During his welcome the cadets received information about the 916th and its mission as well as its accomplishments.

The cadets were then informed about the flight path of the mission and escorted to the flight line where they would soon begin their observation of a refueling mission.

Mrs. Donna Lea, 916th Public Affairs Specialist, ensured the cadets received the best experience possible. She escorts cadets on a monthly basis and has been doing so for 18 years.

From the reaction of the cadets one can see why Mrs. Lea takes advantage of the opportunity to be an escort.

"I loved it; it was awesome and a great experience up there," said Cadet Melanie Evans from the TRCAP.

Like most of her colleagues she was enthusiastic about her experience on the KC-135, which is evident in the amount of pictures she took.

One of the things Cadet Evans liked best about the opportunity to fly was "watching the refueling process," she said.

On this particular mission the KC-135 was refueling F-16s out of Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.

Cadet Evans witnessed this process from the boom pod where the boom operator sits and guides the fuel siphon into the receiving jet.

"It was well worth it," she said.

Cadet Zackary M. Ratkovich, from the Air Force Academy said, "It was really cool and a neat opportunity to see more of the support side from another end of the spectrum. It is a great way to see where tax dollars are being spent for an operation like this," he said.

Both the cadets from the Air Force Academy and the Tar River Civil Air Patrol had a good time seeing the 916th's refueling process up close.

Cadet Evans hopes that other people will be able to fly and "see the refueling process at least once," she said.

More Academy cadets fly the 916th today.