Honorary Squadron Commanders get sneak peek at base

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tim Beckham
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE --  More than 20 Honorary Squadron Commanders and some of their spouses got a sneak peek at the base here Sep. 7 during a guided community-relations tour.

The HSC program connects local community leaders with D-M squadrons and their military commanders, preferably aligning the individual's interest with the squadron's mission. The honorary commanders typically serve two-year "terms," before other nominees are selected to replace them.

The program is intended to foster a supportive relationship between the base and the community, increase military involvement in civic endeavors and organizations, and make the members of our local community part of the Desert Lightning Team. As part of that effort, honorary commanders are invited to tour the base regularly, and they also accompany their D-M counterparts at several military events and special ceremonies.

The tour began with a breakfast at the Mirage Officer's Club and was followed by an A-10C briefing by Col. Kent Laughbaum, 355th Fighter Wing commander.

After the breakfast, the honorary commanders made their way to the flightline where they saw an A-10 Thunderbolt II and a HH-60G Pave Hawk first hand. Then the community leaders crowded around and looked on while D-M members performed a weapons load demonstration.

The final stop on the tour was a visit to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group for a tour of the one-of-a-kind specialized facility, which provides critical aerospace maintenance and regeneration capabilities for Joint and Allied/Coalition warfighters.

Overall, the honorary commanders were happy with their tour experience.

"It broadens the knowledge of community leaders," said Ray Carroll, Supervisor of District 4, Pima County Board of Supervisors. "I think it's important for us to have personal interaction with the men and women serving our country and I am greatly impressed with the things this base does."

People who don't work at D-M may see the occasional aircraft fly over, but might not have any knowledge about what really happens on the installation. The HSC program and its members are interested in increasing that knowledge.

"I think it's a vital program," said Elizabeth Bilby, Gourmet Products Inc. President and member of the DM-50, a base advocate group. "It's important for civilians to know what the men and women of the service are doing, especially with D-M being so close."