Fun in the sun with Team Offutt Published July 28, 2014 By Senior Airman Anthony Faison 343rd Reconnaisance Squadron OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Members of the 55th Operations Group hosted the Raven Haven's third annual Hoover Classic Golf Tournament July 17 at the Willow Lakes Golf Course in Bellevue, Nebraska. The event was a fundraiser for the Raven Haven Booster Club, an organization devoted to promoting espirit de corps and strengthening the morale in airmen. Among the 64 participants were a mix of enlisted, officers and civilians from different squadrons within the group, presenting an oppurtunity for fellowship not always present in the work place. "This tournament provides a sense of comaraderie for the squadrons and the group," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Douglas Levan, 55th Operations Group deputy commander. "There's only so much you can learn about someone from office work." U.S Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jason Parker, 343rd Reconnaissance Squadron airborne systems engineer, echoed his sentiment. "There is no better way to get [people] together than on the links,"he said. Even coalition partners came out to support the function. Spectators and players could oftern hear U.K. Royal Air Force Flight Lieutenant Andrew Buxton, 343rd RS assistant director of operations, of the golf team "Ballin' and Outrageous" proclaim his team motto--"Look Good, Feel Good, Play good... In that Order!" The tournament entailed multiple on-course competitions, a $10,000 hole-in-one grand prize and a give-away with gifts provided by various organizations and businesses in the Omaha and Bellevue area. The event's great success may not have been realized without the countless hours and months of preparation event coordinator U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Colburn Helppie-Schmieder, 343rd RS co-pilot, and 10 squadron volunteers contributed. "Seeing everyone's hard work and efforts payoff was the most enjoyable thing for me," Helppie-Schmieder said. "The tournament was a success due to the hard-work of the volunteers, the many sponsors who supported the tournament and the golfers who participated." In conjuction with the golf tounament, the 343rd RS hosted its own open house event July 18, which started with a tour of the internationally coveted RC-135, followed by an ice cream social put on by the 343rd RS Spouse's Group. "The open house was to help raise morale and family involvement in the squadron," said U.S. Air Force 2nd. Lt. Alan Blair, 343rd RS electronic warfare officer. "It also allowed spouses and family members to see the RC-135 up-close and learn more about what their spouses or significant others get to do for this country every day. The highlight for me was seeing the smaller children's eyes light up while they explored the inside of the RC-135." More than 100 Team Offutt members came out to enjoy the fun, made possible by the nine 343rd RS and two 55th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron volunteers. Both the Hoover Classic and the Open House, showed the diligence of Offutt Air Force Base's Airmen. They helped to ensure military members had the opportunity to play as hard as they work.