Team Dover hosts McChord Civic Leaders

  • Published
  • By Roland Balik
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Nineteen honorary commanders and civic leaders from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, came to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, for a three-day Community Relations Tour, June 7-9, 2017.

The purpose of hosting the CRT was to expose JBLM members to the similar and unique missions of another Air Mobility Command base and to foster relationships with the visiting HCCs and civic leaders.

After the McChord C-17 Globemaster III parked on the transient ramp, Col. Ethan Griffin, 436th Airlift Wing commander, greeted his former boss, Col. Leonard Kosinski, 62nd AW commander, and members of the JBLM CRT, some of whom remember Griffin as the former vice wing commander of the 62nd AW.

“We have an interesting mix of folks here,” said Kosinski. “Probably half have been heavily involved with supporting our Airmen in different programs and the other half are interested in potentially becoming an honorary commander.”

In the 9th Airlift Squadron auditorium, Griffin, accompanied by Chief Master Sgt. Michael Zimmerman, 436th Mission Support Group superintendent, formally welcomed the CRT participants and presented a Team Dover mission briefing.

After the brief, the group made their first stop to the C-5 Isochronal Inspection Dock.

“The honorary commander program is a great ability for us as Airmen to reach out to professionals in other areas and to be able to cross-tell some of what we do as a profession,” said Kosinski. “We have had huge success at McChord.”

Starting on the second day, the CRT had breakfast with Team Dover Airmen at the dining facility before touring the Joint Personal Effects Depot, Armed Forces Medical Examiner System and Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations.

Referring to her tour of JPED, AFMES and AFMAO, Melanie Boehm, a City of University Place, Washington, code enforcement officer, said, “I think it’s amazing the job that they do, to see the time, effort and the dedication that they have for the job, it’s very emotional. It was important for me to come and experience it so I can share what great work our Air Force is doing.”

After having lunch with some of Dover’s company grade officers, the group’s next stop of the day was a tour of the 436th Aerial Port Squadron, also known as the “Super Port.”

“I found that the automation was really interesting,” said Melissa Dravis, United Parcel Service human resources supervisor out of Seattle, Washington. “The facility was pristine and the programs they use to track inventory were unique as well. We don’t have any physical tracking on packages until we touch them, so the Radio Frequency Identification tags that they use would certainly be something that would be helpful for us to implement.”

Dravis also works with the JBLM Transition Office within the Hiring Our Heroes program for service members transitioning from the military to the civilian sector.

“As always, our amazing Airmen showed them the pride and the passion they have for their work,” said Dawne Nickerson-Banez, 436th AW Public Affairs chief of community engagement.

After visiting the Air Mobility Command Museum, the group met with Dover AFB honorary commanders and local civic leaders during dinner at Meding’s Seafood. The event was hosted by owner Rob Meding, 436th Logistics Readiness Squadron honorary commander.

“We listened to them talk about our base,” said Meding. “They enjoyed coming here and they are like-minded people from the other coast.”

A member of the CRT commented about a Team Dover member’s enthusiasm for their job as being infectious.

"For the McChord Civic Leaders to attend a fly away tour to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, was an honor and privilege for all that attended," said Master Sgt. Todd Wivell, 62nd AW chief of public affairs. "The 19 civic leaders who attended from the Puget Sound had a great time and learned so much about the Dover Airmen and their missions. They were humbled in so many ways and were so impressed with how every Airman they met, spoke openly to them, cared about their thoughts and questions and went out of their way to make them feel at home."

Months of coordination between the two bases was a major factor in making the CRT successful.

"There are a lot of moving parts to planning a community relations tour,” said Nickerson-Banez. “Working with Master Sgt. Wivell and his vast experience and knowledge made my first time hosting smooth and easy. Being flexible is the key.”

Before departing Dover on Friday morning, the group toured the 373rd Training Squadron, Detachment 3, and watched C-5M Super Galaxy and C-17 aircraft maintenance students receive technical training on maintenance trainers and engines.

"We showed off some very specific Dover missions, missions they won't see at any other base,” stated Nickerson-Banez.

As the CRT participants flew back to JBLM, positive comments about their visit could be heard throughout the cargo compartment.

"Flying back from Dover, the McChord Civic Leaders could not stop talking about all they saw, heard and did while they visited Dover," stated Wivell. "It was great to see how this collaboration worked out and knowing that new relationships have been built between the McChord and Dover communities makes this trip all the worthwhile."