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Congressman Norman tours Shaw AFB

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Ashley Maldonado
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  U.S. Representative Ralph Norman of South Carolina, his associates, and community members of Sumter, South Carolina, toured Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., on Aug. 18, 2017.

The congressman and members of the Sumter community visited the installation, attended a mission brief and observed the Air Combat Command F-16 Viper Demonstration Team training in order to familiarize themselves with the capabilities of the F-16s stationed at Shaw AFB.

Greeted by Col. Daniel Lasica, 20th Fighter Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Daniel Hoglund, 20th FW command chief, Team Shaw members began their tour at the 20th FW headquarters building.

“As a newly elected member of Congress, it was important for (Team Shaw members) to brief (Congressman Norman) on the Shaw AFB mission and give him insight as to the base’s role in the state and the Air Force in general,” said Maj. Shaun Hoeltje, 20th Operation Support Squadron chief of wing weapons and tactics.

“I think it was important for us to communicate to him some of the things that are unique to Shaw AFB,” Hoeltje said. “For instance, there are three F-16 squadrons here. You’re not going to find that anywhere else in the world. The F-16 squadrons do the ‘Wild Weasel’ mission of suppression of enemy air defenses, which is a unique capability that they bring to the Air Force. Interestingly enough, most of the United States’ SEAD capability resides here at Shaw AFB.”

Hoeltje went on to say how the base functions largely due to the taxpayers, so it was important for the congressman to see the layout of the base, some of the current and future base projects and understand the 20th FW mission. As a result, the congressman better understands the importance of funding, not only for the base and the 20th FW mission, but for the Airmen as well.

Congressman Norman said, in a Facebook post, how he had the great opportunity to tour Shaw AFB and witness an F-16 demonstration and boasted his support for the military.