JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Leadership from the 62nd Airlift Wing accompanied 27 civic leaders from the Puget Sound during its civic leader fly away tour to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Aug. 30 – Sept. 1.
Col. Leonard Kosinksi, 62nd Airlift Wing commander, flew the C-17 Globemaster III along with Capt. Brad Fisher, 62nd AW executive officer, to Alaska and back. Chief Master Sgt. Tico Mazid, 62 AW command chief took part in the two-day event as well, serving as a military liaison for the group.
“The purpose for this event is to educate and familiarize our community members with other military installations and to give them the opportunity to meet face to face with the Airmen of our Air Force,” said Master Sgt. Todd Wivell, 62 AW Public Affairs chief. “Every year, we try to take our civic leaders somewhere different, to demonstrate the diversity of missions across the Air Force.”
The group from JBLM was hosted by JBER leadership, the Public Affairs office and other countless units at JBER.
The group from McChord began their tour at the Blood Bank of Alaska in Anchorage to learn about the unique partnership of the base and the blood bank. A large amount of blood donations at the blood bank come from the men and women who work at JBER.
The second day of the tour, the group visited an F-22 static display, the 212th Rescue Squadron, the Alaska Air National Guard, and a Black Hawk unit.
The civic leaders also attended dinners with local Anchorage civic leaders to get a chance to get to meet with other community members who work closely with their local military installation.
Prior to their departure from JBER, the civic leaders were able to receive a military working dogs demonstration as well as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal demonstration.
One of the civic leaders, Carlene Joseph, McChord Civic Leader, said she learned a lot about the base and their units throughout the trip.
“I’ve always wondered about JBER and the mission there, especially because it is a joint base like us, but there, the Air Force is the lead” said Joseph. It’s always nice to learn what different missions the Air Force is doing.”
She said the trip gave her a clear picture of what JBER is doing.
“My favorite part of the tour was the F-22 and meeting with the Airmen,” Joseph said. “I was totally impressed.”