HCC 436th Operations Group Tour

Robb Carter, Joint Personal Effects Depot honorary commander, looks at the airfield during a tour of the air traffic control tower Sept. 21, 2016, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Team Dover Honorary Commanders took part in a tour of the 436th Operations Group and received an incentive flight on a C-17A Globemaster III. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman William Johnson)

HCC 436th Operations Group Tour

Staff Sgt. Ryan Thompson, 3rd Airlift Squadron loadmaster, answers questions from Stephanie Preece, 373rd Training Squadron Detachment 3 honorary commander, during an incentive flight Sept. 21, 2016, out of Dover Air Force Base, Del. The flight also included mid-air refueling from two KC-135A Stratotankers assigned to the 171st Air Refueling Wing, Pittsburgh International Airport, Pa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman William Johnson)

HCC 436th Operations Group Tour

Todd Ewald, 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron honorary commander, takes a picture of a KC-135A Stratotanker assigned to the 171st Air Refueling Wing, Pittsburgh International Airport, Pa., during mid-air refueling operations Sept. 21, 2016, out of Dover Air Force Base, Del. Ewald was on an incentive flight during the refueling operations as part of the honorary commanders 436th Operations Group Tour. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman William Johnson)

HCC 436th Operations Group Tour

Susan Herr, 436th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, takes a picture from inside a C-17A Globemaster III during an incentive flight Sept. 21, 2016, out of Dover Air Force Base, Del. The flight was part of the annual honorary commanders tour of the 436th Operations Group. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman William Johnson)

HCC 436th Operations Group Tour

Tech. Sgt. Clay Morris, 436th Operations Support Squadron Aircrew Flight Equipment production supervisor, gives a tour of the AFE facility to honorary commanders Sept. 21, 2016, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. The honorary commanders saw how aircrews depend on AFE for mission success. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman William Johnson)

HCCs tour OG, sky

Published Sept. 23, 2016
By Senior Airman William Johnson
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Team Dover Honorary Commanders received an up-close and personal view of the operational side of Dover’s mission during a tour of the 436th Operations Group Sept. 21, 2016, at Dover AFB, Del.

The Honorary Commander program partners commanders with local civic and political leaders to build and strengthen relationships and positively impact the community.

Todd Ewald, 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron honorary commander, is a first time honorary commander and said he has enjoyed his experiences with Team Dover.

“I love it,” Ewald said. “I love coming on base and seeing all the Airmen and learning about what they do. What’s really been impressive to me is that the officers usually introduce things and then pass it right on down to the newer and younger Airmen, and they know exactly everything that they are talking about. It’s just really impressive.”

The honorary commanders started their day with a welcoming speech from Col. Ethan Griffin, 436th Airlift Wing commander, followed by various mission briefs from commanders and Airmen from the 436th Operations Support Squadron, 9th Airlift Squadron and the 3rd AS. Following the briefs, the honorary commanders toured the air traffic control tower where they were able to view the entire airfield, including the newly renovated runway project.

Soon after, the honorary commanders boarded a C-17A Globemaster III for an incentive flight. The flight included multiple opportunities to view mid-air refueling operations from two KC-135A Stratotankers from the 171st Air Refueling Wing, Pittsburgh International Airport, Pennsylvania.

This was Ewald’s first time flying in military aircraft and he said it was an experience he will never forget.

“The flight today was really great,” said Ewald. “I’m an engineer so I love aircraft and I’ve always been interested in airplanes, so getting to go on a military plane like this and seeing air-to-air refueling was really unique.”

Once back on the ground, the honorary commanders finished their tour with a walkthrough of the 436th OSS Aircrew Flight Equipment Facility and had the chance to pilot a C-17 simulator.

“The C-17 flight simulator was really cool,” said Ewald. “I got to actually sit in the seat and fly the plane. They didn’t even have the full movement of the simulator on, just the screen was going but I actually felt like I was flying the plane; I really enjoyed that.”

The next honorary commanders’ tour is scheduled for Nov. 16, 2016, when they will be touring the 436th Medical Group.