Air Force Week mixes past, present, future at museum

  • Published
  • By Capt. Nicholas J. Sabula
  • Air Force News Agency
OMAHA, Neb. (AFPN) --  Airmen brought current and future operations to the historic Strategic Air and Space Museum here Aug. 13 as part of Air Force Week in the Heartland.

At a venue famous for Gen. Curtis LeMay exhibits, numerous aircraft and the home base for looking back at the Air Force's former Strategic Air Command, Airmen greeted lively crowds with information, stories and insight to what today's servicemembers bring to the fight.

The event is one of many planned happenings during Air Force Week in the Heartland, a week-long schedule in the Omaha area aimed at showcasing the Air Force, its people and multiple missions with the local community.

"We're focusing on the legacy of airpower," said Capt. Vierira de Souza, the event director. "We have the legacy, we have the present and we're also talking about the future."

Visitors entering the museum saw a large display of Air Force Week contest winners from school students, ranging from kindergarten through 12th grade showcasing support of the service. From there, visitors were treated to an Air Force Space Command display, linguistics team presentations, flight simulators, the Air Force chopper, an intercontinental ballistic missile presentation, a Pratt and Whitney F100 engine used in the F-16 Fighting Falcon and even a mini F-22 Raptor. These are just a small sample of the many displays and demonstrations giving people of all ages something to see.

The Air Force Honor Guard drill team was on hand to provide an exhibition of skill and precision. Members of the 819th RED HORSE Squadron from Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., brought in some heavy equipment to show visitors some of their tools of the trade. Touting runway repair equipment that can fix battle-damaged runways, large structure-building machines, trucks, bulldozers and cranes, the specialized civil engineers fielded a barrage of questions on infrastructure for an air base.

"A lot of questions we get is what's the difference between the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve and the active duty and Air National Guard," said Master Sgt. Alden Harriman, an in-service recruiter with the 170th Group at Offutt AFB, Neb., who clarified questions from the crowds throughout the day.

Community support with the Guard is important to people living in the Heartland, Sergeant Harriman said.

"A lot of times we're known as the hometown Air Force. We have deep ties with the community," he said. "Today it's awareness with the public to show them all aspects of the Air Force, since it is a total force, and to bring that awareness that we're all interwoven. We all have the same rank structure, the same type of training -- one's just more of a part-time component, as opposed to a full-time component."

Airmen from Offutt AFB were on-hand with aircrew flight equipment displays, demonstrating the life sustaining items used aboard the RC-135 Rivet Joint and E-4B National Airborne Operations Center aircraft that supports the president, secretary of defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Brenda Anderson, whose husband serves on active duty with the Navy said she got a lot out of talking to the Airmen and seeing all the displays.

"Since it's Air Force Week, (the kids) said, 'We have to go to the air and space museum' and here we are," said Mrs. Anderson of Papillion, Neb. "I think it's a neat insight to Air Force operations, since we're Navy and we live the navy life. To be stationed here and get to see it in further detail is great."

Offutt AFB medical teams from the 55th Medical Group showed off some of their special equipment, while making some of the younger visitors smile.

"We get to mix in with the kids and the crowds and they get to see what we do on a daily basis," said Master Sgt. Dean Landry, the medical systems flight noncommissioned officer in charge who helped visitors try on medical gear and blew-up latex gloves like balloons for children to make the medical side of the mission a little more interesting.

Sergeant Landry's display was a rapid response trailer used in responding to a mass casualty scenario, where medical teams augment it with manning and supplies. The trailer can then be used as a hub for triage and treatment of approximately 300 patients over a 24-hour period.

"I love being out here letting the people come through and see what the medical field is all about in the Air Force," said Master Sgt. Shane Doxzon a 55th Medical Group personal responsibility program manager. "I'm a critical care tech, so this is fun."

The medical group Airmen also setup a full decontamination station, allowing visitors to view the inner workings of a field unit that can be set up in as little as 15 minutes.

"We wanted to make sure people see our equipment and understand our capabilities," said Capt. (Dr.) Katy Garver, the 55th Medical Group decontamination team chief. "People pretty much understand this is just a big shower we use to get people clean before we treat them."

"I think the kids have enjoyed seeing a different side of the military," Mrs. Anderson said. "It's a nonthreatening environment, considering what the military is all about."

For more information on Air Force Week in the Heartland activities, visit www.airforceweekintheheartland.com.