Mildenhall Airmen explore Dover Castle, build resilience together

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Luke Milano
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Team Mildenhall Airmen explored Dover Castle, during a resiliency trip Sept. 7, 2018.

The trip, organized by the Square-D Center for Character and Culture office, included a self-guided walk-through of the castle, along with an underground hospital and a realistic representation of Operation Dynamo.

Operation Dynamo was the rescue and evacuation of 338,000 Allied troops from Dunkirk in May 1940.

“Dover Castle has a rich history since it was the center of operations during the Dunkirk evacuation, so it has the English heritage side of it along with the military history,” said Tech. Sgt. Noah Clifton, 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron NCO in-charge of individual protective element, and heritage committee representative. “It helps reinforce to military members of the importance resiliency and what our founding military fathers had to go through to help us to move forward.”
The purpose of the trip was more than just an interactive history experience.

“Not only is the heritage committee highlighting military history knowledge, but it also meets the Air Force’s incentive to help young Airmen understand military heritage and the role those people played in where we are today,” said Jack Sweet, RAF Mildenhall community support coordinator.

The 100th Air Refueling Wing regularly host events to inspire the warrior ethos and instill pride in the Bloody Hundredth.

The Dover Castle tour also connected the history of the castle with the Airmen and their personal resilience.

“Understanding that no matter what position you’re in and that everything you do in and outside your job is important not only for the Air Force but for yourself,” said Airman 1st Class Andrew Shoemaker, 100th LRS individual protective element journeyman. “I personally find it helps me to take pride in my job. This trip helps us remember there are hundreds of years of development that formed the core values of the Air Force. Being able to connect England’s history to my daily life helps me understand my position and place, as well as what I have to look forward to.”

The resiliency trip offered an insight to the Airmen through the long history within its walls.

“For the operations that took place at Dover during the evacuation of troops at Dunkirk, there were people manning the boats evacuating the people from Dunkirk back to England, but there were also the logistics people on the English side who were out of harm’s way to do it,” Clifton said. “Their job wasn’t any less important – so everybody in that operation was important – If the Airmen can take that back to what they do at Mildenhall, whether driving a bus, supplying parts or manning the air traffic control tower, it will help them realize that everything is important to the mission. If one part fails then the mission fails.”