RAF Mildenhall hosts honorary commanders, highlights OUP contribution

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  The 100th Air Refueling Wing's contribution to Operation Unified Protector was a key focus for local dignitaries and their guests during their Honorary Commanders' Day visit here Oct. 27.

The focus was to educate the 17 guests and military commander's spouses on what it takes to generate aircraft for missions such as OUP, which was accomplished through mission briefs, flying a KC-135 Stratotanker simulator and touring the air traffic control tower.

"Honorary commanders are a vital link between the base and community," said Col. Christopher Kulas, 100th Air Refueling Wing commander. "We're obligated to keep local citizens informed about our activities and to foster positive relationships with our host nation. Honorary commanders represent the community and are able to convey to base leadership what the people expect, meanwhile relaying command messages back to the community."

The first stop on the tour was the air traffic control tower, where Master Sgts. Eric Paddock and Brian Jones, and Tech. Sgt. Rachel Castrovinci, all from the 100th Operations Support Squadron, briefed the guests and commanders on controller operations.

From the tower, some guests noticed a cement generating facility on base. With the local community in mind, John Cushing, 100th Maintenance Group honorary commander, raised the question about why RAF Mildenhall needed such a facility.

"RAF Mildenhall operates a World War II-era runway better than many modern facilities," said Jones. "To make that possible, we need to routinely reconstitute our runway and flightline."

Rather than heavy trucks moving cement to and from the base, emitting carbon, burning diesel and damaging the local roads, the base looked for a method to reduce the environmental impact, while still supporting local businesses.

"The base reached out to local cement companies and worked a plan to erect a generation facility onsite here," said Jones, lauding the positive impacts the base has already seen. "During last year's Christmas blizzard, RAF Mildenhall was the only open airport in the U.K. We were able to remain active while other airports were closed because we continually reconstitute our paved surfaces."

After the ATC tour and briefing, the guests were transported to the dining facility, where they partook in the same lunches unaccompanied Airmen regularly eat.

After lunch, they moved on to the 100th Operations Group where Capt. Charissa DeLion, 100th Air Refueling Wing Safety, hosted OUP briefings, which were given by: 351st Air Refueling Squadron members Lt. Col. Thomas Torkelson, Senior Airman Kenneth Arcibal and Capt. Matthew Willey, as well as Senior Airman Lance McDaniel, 100th OG.

During the briefings, Col. Joseph DeMarco, 100th OG commander, addressed the guests.

Recalling the efforts it took to devise a unique plan for 100th ARW tankers to fly the very first NATO OUP air mission, DeMarco said, "We linked up with 48th Fighter Wing F-15s that were already circling above RAF Mildenhall, and flew toward Libya. It's moments like those that'll make a commander say, 'Yes! Those are my guys up there!' We rocked the house!"

Next on their tour, the guests visited the tanker simulator. After that, they headed to fuels and their final stop was to a static KC-135 display to view the same type of aircraft that flew the first OUP mission up close and personal. DeLion and Lt. Col. Rob Gomez, 100th MXG deputy commander, teamed up to brief the guests on that portion. While at the static display, the guests partook in a not-so-standard British tea break. Instead, they had their tea 'maintenance style.'

"You are all so clever, this is the best event yet," said Sir Michael Oswald, a former advisor to the Queen.

Oswald, 100th Mission Support Group honorary commander, was overwhelmed by yet another flawless honorary commanders' event, he said, lauding all the Airmen who made it possible and, more importantly, all of Team Mildenhall, who execute their mission professionally every day.

As they guests returned from their tour, many expressed gratitude of the visit and eye-opening experiences. For Team Mildenhall, the day marked another opportunity to bolster the association between base commanders and their honorary commanders, and to foster and maintain healthy British-American relationships.