B-2s, tanker squadrons host military family event

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Steven Wilson
  • 36th Operations Group Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  Military members and their families saw America's most advanced bomber and the Airmen that support the stealth bomber mission in a military community event held here Nov. 21. 

Members of the 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron and the 506th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron put their respective aircraft on display and allowed anyone with Department of Defense credentials to view their jets and were on hand to answer questions. 

Prior to the public static aircraft displays, members of the 393rd EBS spent time in the DoD schools here and spoke to the students about their unique aircraft and advertised the event. 

"The funniest question I got was 'Can you take me with you to fly your plane around?'", said Capt. Joe Tullos, 393rd EBS standardization and evaluation officer. "I told her I could but it would probably be the last flight I ever got to go on." 

Another young student asked Captain Tullos if he'd ever had to "jump out of the airplane" after the captain commented on the B-2 ability to operate at altitudes of 50,000 feet. 

"Well, we have good ejection seats but it's not something I want to try unless I really have to," answered Captain Tullos. 

Capt. Justin Grieve, 393rd EBS weapons and tactics officer, said speaking to the young students was a priceless experience. 

"I think it's important to motivate young people to follow their dreams and work hard to get what they want out of life," he said. "It was really an honor and privilege to go out and talk to our Nation's future and I hope to do it again soon." 

An event such as this one is not done in a vacuum. Maintenance personnel towed the aircraft to their display spots and answered questions pertaining to the mechanics of the airframes. Security forces were on hand to provide security for public safety as well as the jets. The Andersen fire department sent two fire engines and made them accessible for public viewing. Plus, to the delight of many of the small children attending, it featured a fully operable siren that could be heard wailing across the airfield. 

The importance of this event was summed up by Andersen's leadership. 

"I'm very pleased Andersen's Airmen, both permanent party and deployed, put this together," said Col. Damian McCarthy, 36th Operations Group commander. "Events like these allow us to showcase what we do by letting our military community see up close just what we're devoting so much time to supporting here at Andersen. We must never lose sight of the fact we work and live every day on this strategically located forward main operating base and the support we provide to our rotational and AMC forces is critical to our nation's interests in the Pacific." 

The tankers and stealth bombers are deployed to Andersen to provide a prudent deterrence capability for the Western Pacific region. A continued bomber presence has been occurring here since 2004 and the Airmen supporting the CBP promote the values of stability and security in the region as air ambassadors for the United States.