Civic leader tour scores big for 1st SOW Published Nov. 21, 2009 By Amy Oliver 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Twenty local civic leaders saw firsthand the training that goes into creating an Air Commando during a tour Randolph and Lackland Air Force Bases in Texas Nov. 12-13. Col. Greg Lengyel, 1st Special Operations Wing commander, escorted the group to the San Antonio area for the event called a civic leader tour, an Air Force program designed to increase community leaders' awareness and understanding of the Air Force's role in national security by inviting them to witness the Air Force mission at various Air Force installations. "Most local community leaders are familiar with the 1st SOW's mission through local programs we sponsor, such as the honorary commander program," said Colonel Lengyel. "But they aren't familiar with the training that our Airmen must complete before they come to us." The 1st SOW public affairs office carefully selected the attendees from groups of civilian opinion leaders who are capable of disseminating information to various publics about the Air Force's programs. The group represented a broad cross-section of the Emerald Coast from Navarre to DeFuniak Springs and included a popular radio disc jockey, a bar and restaurant owner, a realtor, a mayor and a police chief. The trip began with a flight aboard a 6th Special Operations Squadron C-130 from Hurlburt Field to Randolph AFB, where they learned about the 12th Flying Training Wing's pilot training and combat systems training that takes place there. As an extra bonus, they visited the 99th Flying Training Squadron and its Tuskegee Airman display honoring the heritage of the squadron. They also toured the 560th Flying Training Squadron's Prisoner of War/Missing in Action display, which included a wall of Freedom Flyer photos. When the MIA and POW Airmen returned home, they were offered the opportunity for one last flight, becoming one of the squadron's "Freedom Flyers". The group located photos of local heroes including retired Colonels Bud Day and Howard Hill. Day two began with a front row seat at a 37th Training Wing basic military training graduation where 598 brand new Airmen took the Air Force oath of enlistment. Colonel Lengyel served as the reviewing official and offered the new Airmen two pieces of advice: to do as they're told and to live the core values. After the graduation, the group visited a BMT dormitory and had lunch with trainees in their seventh week. Then they visited the technical school where new combat control and pararescue trainees spend their first two weeks of their pipeline training, followed by a tour of two enlisted aircrew trainer aircraft, including a retired 1st SOW MH-53 PAVE LOW helicopter used for fast rope and hoist training. "The entire two-day trip emphasized the message that Air Commandos are created, not born," said Colonel Lengyel. "That was the goal of the trip, but ultimately, the civic leader tour benefits us as much as it does the community leaders. It helps forge stronger community relations that in turn ensures strong community support for our Airmen and their families." For the community leaders, the tour was an eye-opening experience. "It gives me a greater appreciation for the entire Air Force mission to see this aspect of Air Force," said Michelle Nicholson, public information officer for the Okaloosa County Sheriff's office. At the end of the trip, the attendees returned anonymous feedback forms. One response was, "My favorite parts were learning more about how basic military training has changed to meet current needs, seeing the graduation parade and oath, and talking with the week-seven trainees at lunch. Each of these pieces gave me a better understanding of the molding and shaping of the enlisted force." Another responded, "Most interesting is how each piece of the puzzle comes together in the end."