Andersen units share experiences, enhance teamwork

Published May 28, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente
36th Wing Public Affairs

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- While deployed to support the Theater Security Package and the Continuous Bomber Presence here, three units are educating one another on each other jobs to better integrate with one another.

Members assigned to the 13th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, 506th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron and 509th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit are having the opportunity to see another point of view of their mission.

Airmen from the 13th EBS and 509th EAMXU took an incentive flight on a KC-135 Stratotanker to see the air refueling aircraft provide fuel to one of their B-2 Spirit aircraft.

"I thought it was amazing being able to experience a small part of the KC-135 Stratotanker mission in refueling [another one of] America's aircraft," said Airman 1st Class Demetrius R. Mapp, 509th EAMXU avionics specialist.

Airman Mapp learned a new perspective from the Active Duty Airmen's reservist brethren.
"I wasn't aware that Reserve interacted with active military, but it was cool seeing how the military, no matter the branch or status, comes together to achieve a goal," he said.
Staff Sgt. Brian P. Thompson, 509th EAMXU low observables technician, was also on the incentive ride with Airman Mapp and appreciated the flight.

"It was a good opportunity for me to get some great pictures of an aerial refueling of an aircraft that I've worked on for so long," said Sergeant Thompson.

In return for the Stratotanker flight, the 13th EBS offered 38 Airmen from the 506th EARS a tour of a B-2 Spirit they had refueled.

"It was a great opportunity to have a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the B-2 bomber," said Tech. Sgt. Taine Reed, 506th EARS client support administrator assistant. " ... Northrop Grumman was the maker of the B-2 stealth bomber, which is the same company my dad, Louis Gibson, retired from as an aircraft mechanic out of El Segundo, Calif., so I was really impressed. I was also overwhelmed with the aerodynamics of the aircraft, especially the length of the aircraft wings.

"I was also shocked to find out how the crews operated in such confined space on the aircraft," Sergeant Reed said. "I was also intrigued with how the pilots perform with limited visibility out the windows, which have bars attached, and the fact that that the pilots can fly up to 36 hours on one mission."

Sergeant Reed said the two attributes about the aircraft she liked the most are that it is a multi-role heavy bomber and has the low observables capability, which gives the B-2 Spirit an advantage over other bombers.

"Overall, I was very impressed with the aircraft," she said.

The 509th EAMXU and the 13th EBS will soon redeploy to Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., and the 506th EARS will participate in an exercise while other individuals replace them as they return to March Air Reserve Base, Calif.