SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Early morning May 29, Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and coalition servicemembers manned positions on the flightline prepared to apply their expertise and experience for a successful day. They were not preparing to launch aircraft but fully engaging to take a slightly new approach in supporting the Grand Slam Wing's vision, mission and vector.
Dozens of aircraft maintainers and operators from Air Force, Navy and coalition partners joined firefighters, security forces patrolmen and Soldiers to hold Flightline Fest 2009 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing event presented an opportunity for all base personnel to learn about the aircraft and specialized ground-based equipment and missions operating here.
"I think you will find that this is going to be the most interesting and exciting day of your entire deployment if you get the opportunity to spend time down here and especially if you are not familiar with the flightline," said 379th AEW Commander Maj. Gen. (S) Michael Moeller during his opening comments.
Aircraft on display included a B-1B Lancer, a KC-135 Stratotanker, a RC-135V/W Rivet Joint, a E-8C JSTARS, a C-17 Globemaster III, a Navy P-3C Orion, a Royal Australian Air Force C-130 Hercules, a Royal Air Force VC-10 tanker and GR-4 Tornado, two Air National Guard C-21s, and a transient A-10 Thunderbolt II.
Ground-equipment included an R-11 Refuel Truck, a Pantograph ground-refuel system, an explosive ordnance display, a fire truck, Fly Away Security Team and HUMVEE, a mobile field surgical team tent and ambulance, inert bombs, two Army Patriot launchers, and an Airman Readiness Center information booth.
To ensure everyone had a chance to visit the flightline, passenger buses ran continuously between the living areas and the flightline from 6:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
"All of the Airmen who worked on Flightline Fest were great. Anytime I had some kind of issue I could pick up the phone and call one of the points of contact and get it resolved," said Lt. Col. Mitchell Culp, 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Group, deployed from 161st Air Refueling Wing, Arizona Air National Guard.
There were very few challenges putting together the event, said the Scottsdale, Ariz. native.
"The challenges were minimal thanks to the great planning by the committee members. Our main challenge as always is to make sure that our food stays at their appropriate temperature to make certain our customers stay fit to fight," said Capt. Jessie Johnson, 379th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron sustainment flight commander, who headed up the team cooking food, setting up the dining tents, and manning the DJ booth.
The Cromwell, Indiana native added that while the food was not the event's focus, it contributed a lot to making the event a success.
"We made certain that everyone was fed and most importantly that they were hydrated with nice cold drinks," said Captain Johnson, who is deployed from the 21st Force Support Squadron at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. "My Airmen have great attitudes and put in outstanding efforts day in and day out. They are the ones who take care of the customers and the mission every day."
Shortly after the event's start, spectator comments marked the success of the day's goal -- to educate base members who have little exposure to the flightline.
"I have never been on the flightline before. This is also my first time at an air base," said PFC Deshawn Smith, Bravo 1-43 Air Defense Artillery who is deployed from Ft. Bliss, Texas. The Columbus, Ohio native said he enjoyed the chance to see the aircraft up close, which he has not had the chance to do since his arrival here three months ago.
A 379th Expeditionary Communications Squadron member, Senior Master Sgt. Pauline McConnell, found the experience enlightening and fun at the same time as she could be seen laughing and smiling after receiving a quick tutorial on using a firemen's hose.
"It was pretty awesome and I was amazed by the power and pressure behind it," said the Blarney County Cork, Ireland native who is deployed from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England. "If the fireman positioned behind me wasn't there, I would have lost my balance because when that pressure hits, there is a lot of power behind it that I never realized."
Colonel Culp said the real credit for the day's complete success needs to go to the Airmen and the POCs for each section of the event.
"The day's events were made possible with support from a large pool of dedicated people starting from the planning phase up to the moment the event opened," the colonel said. "Having airplanes available that day and accomplishing the daily mission was very difficult. There were a lot of maintenance folks who jumped through hoops to make it a success."
"The focus should go to the entire 'ops'/maintenance team and everybody who has truly forged this into a world-class event," said General Moeller. "It took a huge level of effort to plan this, to position the airplanes, and to ensure there was zero impact to the air tasking order."
"By sharing the aircraft, equipment, capabilities and displays with everyone, we took care of our people," said Col. Culp. "Everyone who visited Flightline Fest was taking care of themselves and getting an education on the various missions here. I think that it was a true vector event - mission first, take care of each other, and take care of yourself."