Flightline Fest

Staff Sgt. Patrick Connolly, 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal journeyman, helps Royal Air Force Squadron Leader Tony Millsom into a bomb suit during the 2011 Flightline Fest at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia Dec. 15, 2011. The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing hosts the annual event to offer service members the opportunity to examine first-hand the aircraft that execute the wing's expeditionary mission. Various units from the wing as well as units from coalition partners put on demonstrations and displays to educate people on how they cooperate with each other to accomplish the mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Michael Charles)

Flightline Fest

U.S. Army Spc. Andrew Badillo, reviews his notes while sitting on the base of an MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile battery during the 2011 Flightline Fest at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia Dec. 15, 2011.The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing hosts the annual event to offer service members the opportunity to examine first-hand the aircraft that execute the wing's expeditionary mission. Various units from the wing as well as units from coalition partners put on demonstrations and displays to educate people on how they cooperate with each other to accomplish the mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Michael Charles)

Flightline Fest

Tech. Sgt. Daneirys Liranzo, 379th Expeditionary Communication Squadron cyber transport systems technician, gets the feel for an explosive ordnance disposal bomb suit during the 2011 Flightline Fest at an undislcosed location in Southwest Asia Dec. 15, 2011. The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing hosts the annual event to offer service members the opportunity to examine first-hand the aircraft that execute the wing's expeditionary mission. Various units from the wing as well as units from coalition partners put on demonstrations and displays to educate people on how they cooperate with each other to accomplish the mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Eric Summers Jr.)

Flightline Fest

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Charles Stokes, 2-43 Air Defense Artillery, explains the capabilities of the MIM-Patriot surface-to-air missile to John Small and his sons Hank (far right) and Tom, during the 2011 Flightline Fest at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia Dec. 15, 2011.The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing hosts the annual event to offer service members the opportunity to examine first-hand the aircraft that execute the wing's expeditionary mission. Various units from the wing as well as units from coalition partners put on demonstrations and displays to educate people on how they cooperate with each other to accomplish the mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Michael Charles)

Flightline Fest

Attendees line up for a tour of the B-1B Lancer during the 2011 Flightline Fest at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia Dec. 15, 2011. The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing hosts the annual event to offer service members the opportunity to examine first-hand the aircraft that execute the wing's expeditionary mission. Various units from the wing as well as units from coalition partners put on demonstrations and displays to educate people on how they cooperate with each other to accomplish the mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Michael Charles)

Flightline Fest offers unique community event in a deployed setting

Published Dec. 15, 2011
By Senior Airman Michael Charles
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- For many service members, the deployed environment is one of long days, restless nights and a longing for the comforts of home. In this environment, it's easy to lose focus on how each unit is vital to contingency operations. Airmen got a visual, hands-on reminder of how units work together to accomplish the mission at the Fourth Annual Flightline Fest today.

379th Air Expeditionary Wing Airmen joined their sister service components along with host nation and coalition partners at the event, which offered all attendees the opportunity to examine first-hand the aircraft that execute the wing's expeditionary mission.

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Giovanni Tuck, 379th AEW commander, stressed the importance of holding the event which was to foster positive and enduring relationships.

"This is about key leader engagement. We have our host nation out here and that's exactly what we wanted," said Tuck. "To open up our base and let everyone know what it is we do here. This is part of that bridge building towards trust, towards relationships, towards partnerships."

More than 1,100 people attended the fest, which included an assortment of U.S. Air Force and British military aircraft. Static displays included the B-1B Lancer, KC-135 Stratotanker, E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System and six other airframes supported by the wing.

A crew from the 379th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron took time during the fest to educate people on their mission, which saves the lives of our wounded service members and coalition partners.

"We are just shedding a little light on our mission for evacuating and caring for our wounded warriors," said Tech. Sgt. Thomas Humphreys, 379 EAES. "The Air Force has the main mission of aeromedical evacuation for our U.S. military and coalition partners.

"Here at the 379th we are a big piece of that puzzle," he added. "We are just trying to educate our people that if -- God forbid -- you get hurt, we will use every resource the Air Force has to get you out. "

The Royal Air Force also gave insight on how the 379th AEW helps them to accomplish their own goals.

"The British operations in Afghanistan can't happen without the support and cover from the air," said RAF Squadron Leader Noel McAllister, 83rd Expeditionary Air Group. "We work heavily with the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing to solve issues going on with our operations as well as joint coalition objectives. At the end of the day there is only one team and one fight."

The event didn't just highlight aircraft. Various units from around the installation were here to give orientations on their contribution to the mission.

The 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron gave K-9 demonstrations, highlighting the capabilities and importance of maintaining an active working dog program, especially in a deployed environment where security is a priority.

"Some people lose focus because of the many amenities afforded to us," said Staff Sgt. Ashley Umstead, 379th ESFS K-9 handler. "Security remains a top focus because of the vast amount of assets that the wing oversees. Our aim was to demonstrate some of the many security measures we have in place."

Explosive ordnance disposal, fire rescue and loadmaster teams all demonstrated various techniques and equipment being used in current operations. The Army offered a rare opportunity for Airmen to get a ground perspective of the fight by offering a tour of the MIM-104 Patriot surface- to-air missile battery and educating service members on how they cooperatively work with the 379th AEW in support of Operations New Dawn, Enduring Freedom and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

"Not many people know all the ways the Army supports the Air Force," said U.S. Army Spc. Andrew Badillo. "Hopefully they took away some information that will give them a broader view on how we support each other."

The 379 AEW is one of the most diverse expeditionary wings in the Air Force. The wing flies thousands of sorties a year and maintains 24/7 battle space management.

The 2011 Flightline Fest helped to reassure service members and coalition partners that what they are doing is making a difference throughout the world.