9th Air Force hosts civic leader conference

Published June 28, 2007
By Senior Airman Holly MacDonald
20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C -- They traveled by convoy over hot, dusty, red clay roads as temperatures soared to nearly 100 degrees. They saw an improvised explosive devise just in front of the convoy and watched as members of an explosive ordnance disposal team used a robot to safely remove the devise. They ate meals ready to eat for lunch.

The travelers were not Airmen in a deployed location but civilians representing communities from 9th Air Forces bases and direct reporting units who were attending a civic leader conference here, hosted by Lt. Gen. Gary North, 9th Air Force and U.S. Central Command Air Forces commander, June 21-23.

"This was an opportunity for us to show civic leaders throughout 9th Air Force some of the day-to-day experiences our Airmen face while at home and deployed," said General North. "As leaders in their respective communities, they support and encourage our Airmen at all levels, both directly to our Airmen and their families and as a civic voice to our local, state and federal leadership."

The visitors experienced the process of deployment as well as various deployed scenarios.

The civic leaders were paired into two "chalks" or deployment groups and briefed at the Chandler Deployment Processing Center simulating the process Airmen go through to deploy.

One of the demonstrations the visitors experienced was a simulated convoy. The visitors traveled through the convoy at Poinsett Range in four M1083s and two Humvees. In addition to the robot demonstration, the civic leaders also experienced a convoy attack, an IED explosion and a self-aid buddy care demonstration during the convoy. Shortly after the attack, they witnessed America's Air Force extreme air power first hand with close air support, weapons firing, weapons load and simulator demonstration. The group then learned about small arms weapon safety.

"The conference gives true insight to how the Air Force operates - individually and as a joint force," said Chief Master Sgt. Betty Abraham, Moody AFB, Ga. 23rd Medical Group superintendent.

"Being here reinforces the lesson already learned - it takes the whole team for everything to come together," said Michael Gooden, a community leader invited by Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., 4th Fighter Wing commander.

"It was our honor to host the civic leaders of 9th Air Force, and we hope they have gained a better understanding of the environments and challenges facing America's Airmen and their families, as we certainly discussed and learned from them of the key community issues surrounding our bases in the communities throughout 9th Air Force," General North said.