Overview
The intent of the Team Dover's Honorary Commanders Program, in accordance with Air Force Manual 35-101, "Public Affairs Procedures," is to pair up Team Dover senior leaders with community leaders who have limited or no knowledge about Dover Air Force Base, its mission, and its Airmen. 

Civilian participants will be selected from among non-federal elected or appointed officials, mayors, chamber of commerce-type group members, principals of local schools, Military Affairs Committee members, business leaders and others who, because of their position or influence in the community, can positively impact public support for Dover AFB. Selected honorary commanders should represent a cross-section of the entire community.

Program Base Tours
Operations: On this tour, you will be immersed into the 436th and 512th Operations Groups. These active duty and reserve units provide C-5M Super Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III combat aircraft, and are responsible for tactics, aircrew fight equipment, airlift scheduling, air traffic control, airfield operations, intelligence, weather support, and contingency response operations.

Medical: On this tour, you will be immersed into the 436th Medical Group and 512th Aerospace Medicine Squadron. These active duty and reserve units are responsible for providing a full spectrum of health care and patient-centered treatment for Dover AFB’s Airmen and more than 11,000 TRICARE beneficiaries. Services include the Warfighter Clinic, Optometry, Dentistry, Public Health, and Bioenvironmental Engineering.

Mission Support: On this tour, you will be immersed into the 436th and 512th Mission Support Groups. These active duty and reserve units are responsible for worldwide contingency operations and in-garrison missions through security, logistics, civil engineering, contracting, communications, personnel, and quality of life services.

Mission Generation and Maintenance: On this tour, you will be immersed into the 436th Mission Generation Group and 512th Maintenance Group. These active duty and reserve units support Dover AFB’s C-5M Super Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III fleet with field-level aircraft maintenance. Additionally, the 436 MGG operates the Department of Defense’s largest aerial port, handling more than 5,000 aircraft, 25,000 passengers, and 100,000 tons of cargo annually.

Port Mortuary: On this orientation, you will get a glimpse into Dover AFB’s most dignified mission. You will be immersed into the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operation, the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, and the Joint Personal Effects Depot.

Orientation Flight: On this day, you will experience Dover AFB airlift operations onboard either a C-5M Super Galaxy or C-17 Globemaster III.

Qualifications
Honorary Commanders should:

• Be a United States citizen of outstanding character, integrity and patriotism

• Have a deep interest in military affairs

• Be a leader in local, regional, or national community affairs

• Be in a position to provide individual perspectives to Team Dover senior leaders on Team Dover initiatives, issues and other matters of interest

• Be in a position to share information about Team Dover to broad cross-section of the public and to other prominent citizens in their area

• Be able to interpret and affect public attitude toward Dover AFB and the Air Force

• Be able and willing to devote a reasonable amount of time as a civic leader for Dover AFB

Honorary Commanders will not:

• Be an employee of the Federal Government

• Be a federally elected or appointed official. Locally elected or appointed officials will be considered on a case-by-case basis

• Be an active member of the National Guard or a member of the Ready Reserve (Selected), Individual Ready Reserve or Standby Reserve

• Be a retired military member of any service. Exceptions will be rare and approved when there is significant justification for inclusion

• Be a paid employee of any political party

• Hold financial interests that conflict with their role as a civic leader

Commitment 
If selected, an honorary commander should be included in unit functions as much as possible, providing a hands-on experience in the program. They should be invited to be a part of their assigned unit and attend not only business functions such as unit ceremonies and meetings, but family functions as well, e.g., parties, unit picnics, and other such unit events. The honorary commander will be invited (by the Public Affairs Office) to base-wide events such as awards ceremonies and changes of command. Honorary commanders may choose which they attend but should make every effort to be involved and attend at least one event per quarter. Attending additional events will help them gain knowledge and build a strong partnership with their military commander, unit personnel, and the Air Force as a whole. Honorary commanders should drop from the program if they feel they cannot actively engage with their unit commander. We understand mission comes first, so dropping from the program does not create a poor reflection of you or your organization. All questions, concerns or issues about the overall program should be directed to the 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Office. Commitment and feedback is essential to the success of this program.