Charleston AFB participates in Airlift/Tanker Association convention
CHARLESTON, S.C. (USTCNS) --- Members of Team Charleston and the 6th Air Refueling Wing, the 437th Airlift Wing's sister wing at MacDill AFB, Fla., traveled to the annual Airlift/Tanker Association Convention and Symposium recently in Anaheim, Calif.
Seventy-six people from Charleston's Low Country Chapter of the A/TA were among the 2,435 convention attendees. Most 437 AW and 315th Airlift Wing representatives were on the C-17 flight, along with 29 from MacDill. Other Low Country Chapter members, to include Boeing employees, flew on commercial airliners.
Based on prior-year statistics, a convention administrator estimated 66 percent of the convention attendees were active-duty Air Force, 14 percent were retired military, and 63 participants were active duty or retired general officers. From the 437 AW, most were selected by wing leadership as official delegates.
"Being selected as part of Team Charleston's delegation to the Airlift/Tanker Association's 32nd Annual National Convention and Symposium is quite an honor and responsibility," Findley said.
Lt. Col. Dave Rodriguez, Low Country Chapter president and 17th Airlift Squadron director of operations, tasked delegates to "take what you learn here about air mobility and bring it home to Team Charleston, to make us better."
As chapter president, Rodriguez was project officer for the A/TA convention trip.
"You'll experience more about AMC than I think you probably ever even thought about," he said.
The A/TA is a non-profit professional organization with a mission to provide a forum for ensuring U.S. military forces continue to have the air mobility capability needed for U.S. national security strategy.
Gen. Charles T. "Tony" Robertson, commander in chief, U.S. Transportation Command, and commander, Air Mobility Command, presented a Young Leadership award to Capt. Chuck Nessemier, 437th Aircraft Generation Squadron at the awards banquet Saturday evening. Each year 12 winners receive the A/TA award at the national convention.
"He competed against all specialties from the whole command," said Lt. Col. John Zazworsky, 437 AW acting staff director, chief of safety and Low Country Chapter A/TA board advisor. "That's a pretty big feather in his cap."
Keynote speakers at the convention were Gen. Ralph Eberhart, U.S. Space Command commander in chief, Gen. Eric Shinseki, Army chief of staff, and Robertson.
Airman 1st Class Josh Zellers, 437th Transportation Squadron vehicle operations dispatcher, said Shinseki was his favorite of the three.
"I never realized how much the Army relies on us for everything, to get where they're going," said Zellers. Of the other 33 seminars offered, 19 were AMC and Tanker Airlift Control Center briefs. Others were Air Staff, Air Education and Training Command and Air Mobility Warfare Center air mobility perspectives.
There were also several seminars in which air mobility "war stories" were told. Staff Sgt. Jennifer Eagle, 437th Support Group command section information manager, said her favorite seminar was about Operation Babylift.
Col. Regina Aune, 437th Medical Group commander, was one of the briefers and a survivor of a C-5 crash that occurred shortly after takeoff while airlifting orphans out of Vietnam during the 1975 evacuation of Saigon. Aune was a flight nurse for the Operation Babylift mission, and she joined a pilot and loadmaster for the seminar to relate their experiences on that flight.
"Col. Aune was right there, a young lieutenant, a hero," said Eagle. Attendees were also able to sign up for Boeing tours of the C-17 production lines.
"That was the best part to me, " said Capt. Elaine Washington, 437th Medical Operations Squadron flight medicine nurse manager. "I enjoyed seeing how it's set up. It's a huge plant."
Several receptions daily provided an opportunity for attendees to visit with old friends and network with others in the air mobility community. "I got to see a lot of friends from different bases I'd lost contact with," said Eagle.
"The convention was kind of a reblueing experience," she said. "It instituted a lot of pride and esprit de corps, pride in the profession of arms."
Findley gave high praise to the convention and to the Low Country Chapter board for planning the trip.
"I went to my first one of these conventions in 1996, and as long as I'm capable, I'll keep going," he said. "It's a great experience for everybody- learning, having a good time, and sharing ideas. It's great training and great camaraderie. Dave Rodriguez and his team did a fabulous job coordinating the trip."
The national AT/A has more than 4,000 members, according to Rodriguez. Programs include a quarterly magazine, annual national conventions, educational programs, college scholarships, awards and heritage programs to recognize outstanding contributors to air mobility.
"We need more support people and more enlisted. The Airlift/ Tanker Association is great for retention because you get to see the big picture," he said. (FROM AIRLIFT DISPATCH).
Seventy-six people from Charleston's Low Country Chapter of the A/TA were among the 2,435 convention attendees. Most 437 AW and 315th Airlift Wing representatives were on the C-17 flight, along with 29 from MacDill. Other Low Country Chapter members, to include Boeing employees, flew on commercial airliners.
Based on prior-year statistics, a convention administrator estimated 66 percent of the convention attendees were active-duty Air Force, 14 percent were retired military, and 63 participants were active duty or retired general officers. From the 437 AW, most were selected by wing leadership as official delegates.
"Being selected as part of Team Charleston's delegation to the Airlift/Tanker Association's 32nd Annual National Convention and Symposium is quite an honor and responsibility," Findley said.
Lt. Col. Dave Rodriguez, Low Country Chapter president and 17th Airlift Squadron director of operations, tasked delegates to "take what you learn here about air mobility and bring it home to Team Charleston, to make us better."
As chapter president, Rodriguez was project officer for the A/TA convention trip.
"You'll experience more about AMC than I think you probably ever even thought about," he said.
The A/TA is a non-profit professional organization with a mission to provide a forum for ensuring U.S. military forces continue to have the air mobility capability needed for U.S. national security strategy.
Gen. Charles T. "Tony" Robertson, commander in chief, U.S. Transportation Command, and commander, Air Mobility Command, presented a Young Leadership award to Capt. Chuck Nessemier, 437th Aircraft Generation Squadron at the awards banquet Saturday evening. Each year 12 winners receive the A/TA award at the national convention.
"He competed against all specialties from the whole command," said Lt. Col. John Zazworsky, 437 AW acting staff director, chief of safety and Low Country Chapter A/TA board advisor. "That's a pretty big feather in his cap."
Keynote speakers at the convention were Gen. Ralph Eberhart, U.S. Space Command commander in chief, Gen. Eric Shinseki, Army chief of staff, and Robertson.
Airman 1st Class Josh Zellers, 437th Transportation Squadron vehicle operations dispatcher, said Shinseki was his favorite of the three.
"I never realized how much the Army relies on us for everything, to get where they're going," said Zellers. Of the other 33 seminars offered, 19 were AMC and Tanker Airlift Control Center briefs. Others were Air Staff, Air Education and Training Command and Air Mobility Warfare Center air mobility perspectives.
There were also several seminars in which air mobility "war stories" were told. Staff Sgt. Jennifer Eagle, 437th Support Group command section information manager, said her favorite seminar was about Operation Babylift.
Col. Regina Aune, 437th Medical Group commander, was one of the briefers and a survivor of a C-5 crash that occurred shortly after takeoff while airlifting orphans out of Vietnam during the 1975 evacuation of Saigon. Aune was a flight nurse for the Operation Babylift mission, and she joined a pilot and loadmaster for the seminar to relate their experiences on that flight.
"Col. Aune was right there, a young lieutenant, a hero," said Eagle. Attendees were also able to sign up for Boeing tours of the C-17 production lines.
"That was the best part to me, " said Capt. Elaine Washington, 437th Medical Operations Squadron flight medicine nurse manager. "I enjoyed seeing how it's set up. It's a huge plant."
Several receptions daily provided an opportunity for attendees to visit with old friends and network with others in the air mobility community. "I got to see a lot of friends from different bases I'd lost contact with," said Eagle.
"The convention was kind of a reblueing experience," she said. "It instituted a lot of pride and esprit de corps, pride in the profession of arms."
Findley gave high praise to the convention and to the Low Country Chapter board for planning the trip.
"I went to my first one of these conventions in 1996, and as long as I'm capable, I'll keep going," he said. "It's a great experience for everybody- learning, having a good time, and sharing ideas. It's great training and great camaraderie. Dave Rodriguez and his team did a fabulous job coordinating the trip."
The national AT/A has more than 4,000 members, according to Rodriguez. Programs include a quarterly magazine, annual national conventions, educational programs, college scholarships, awards and heritage programs to recognize outstanding contributors to air mobility.
"We need more support people and more enlisted. The Airlift/ Tanker Association is great for retention because you get to see the big picture," he said. (FROM AIRLIFT DISPATCH).
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