RAF Mildenhall hosts Honorary Commanders Day

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kelsey Waters
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  RAF Mildenhall hosted Honorary Commanders' Day Nov. 8, 2012.

Honorary Commanders' Day is one of the ways RAF Mildenhall connects with local leaders by showcasing its different squadrons, which allows honorary commanders to learn more about the mission, vision and priorities of the base.

Honorary commanders are a vital link between the base and the local community. The program allows the base to keep local citizens informed about base activities and fosters a positive relationship with the host nation. Honorary commanders represent the community and convey the expectation of the British community to base leadership, and relay command messages back to the community.

This year, Honorary Commanders' Day involved displays and briefings from 11 different base organizations.

The day started off with a briefing from Col. Christopher Kulas, 100th Air Refueling Wing commander, which was interrupted by a fire evacuation exercise led by the base fire department. The honorary commanders and their active-duty counterparts were shuttled on a bus to the fire department's training area where the 100th Civil Engineer Squadron put out a training aircraft fire. Then the commanders got back on the bus and traveled to Hangar 715 to watch and participate in a tent-building demonstration.

For lunch the commanders ate Meals Ready to Eat. After, they watched a military working dog demonstration by the 100th Security Forces Squadron. Following that, a military capabilities showcase highlighted different aspects of several different base career fields and squadrons.

"I think Honorary Commanders' Day gives people a better understanding of what we do as well as allows (the honorary commanders) to see our professionalism," said Maj. Charles Barkhurst, 100th Comptroller Squadron commander.

Barkhurst believes Honorary Commanders' Day not only allows the honorary commanders to see how the U.S. forces work on base, it also provides base Airmen the chance to discuss differences with British nationals.