Assistant VSCSAF, CMSAF tour Sheppard with civic leaders

Airmen-in-Training at the 361st Training Squadron's propulsion apprentice course demonstrate wiring repair techniques to a civic leader Oct. 31, 2012 at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. The civic leaders received a tour of the base, getting first-hand looks at both the 82nd Training Wing and 80th Flying Training Wing missions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Felton Joshua)

Assistant VCSAF, CMSAF tour Sheppard with civic leaders

The 363rd Training Squadron yells out their squadron chant during the 82nd Training Wing quarterly "Drill Down" competition Oct. 31, 2012 at the Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, parade field Oct. 31, 2012. The drill down was judged by Lt. Gen. Gorenc, the Air Force's Assistant Vice-Chief of Staff, Brig. Gen. Les Kodlick, Air Force Director of Public Affairs and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy as part of a civic leader tour visit to the base with first place going to the the 363rd TRS. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Felton Joshua)

Assistant VCSAF, CMSAF tour Sheppard with civic leaders

Airmen-in-Training at the 366th Training Squadron's electrical apprentice course guide a civic leader through a training problem Oct. 31, 2012 at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. The civic leaders, hailing from all over the country, received a tour of the base, getting first-hand looks at both the 82nd Training Wing and 80th Flying Training Wing missions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Danny Webb)

Assistant VCSAF, CMSAF tour Sheppard with civic leaders

Published Oct. 25, 2012
By Dan Hawkins
82nd Training Wing Public Affairs

SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Lt. Gen. Frank Gorenc, Assistant Vice-Chief of Staff of the Air Force and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy visited here Oct. 31, hosting 19 civic leaders from around the country in an effort to educate the community leaders about the world-class technical training offered by this Air Education and Training Command base.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh, who was originally slated to lead the group, was stranded in Washington by Hurricane Sandy and could not make the trip to Sheppard.

During the visit, Lt. Gen. Gorenc held an executive session with the civic leaders before departing on a tour of the base.

Brig. Gen. Michael Fantini, 82nd Training Wing commander, kicked off the tour with a wing mission brief before the group headed out to visit Airmen at both the 361st Training Squadron's propulsion apprentice technical training course and the 366th Training Squadron's electrical apprentice technical training course.

"Our job is to train and inspire Airmen, and giving our civic leaders a chance to engage one-on-one with Airmen in the training environment is the best way to show how we do that," Brig. Gen. Fantini said. "You can't work side by side with these Airmen even for a couple of minutes without realizing they are the reason we're the world's best Air, Space and Cyberspace Force."

Later in the day, the group got the opportunity to visit the 80th Flying Training Wing, home of the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program.

After getting a first-hand look at the new 80th Operations Group facility, the tour also stopped at the Air Operations Center to witness actual flying training operations in progress.

The civic leaders also attended an 82nd TRW "Drill-Down" competition, where all the technical training squadrons competed in drill and ceremony events in a spirited display of Air Force pride.

In a close contest, the 363rd Training Squadron's drill team was crowned the champion of the event, receiving the trophy from Lt. Gen. Gorenc.

After the competition, both Lt. Gen. Gorenc and Chief Master Sgt. Roy addressed the technical training students, lauding their dedication to duty and willingness to serve their country in a time of war.

The tour departed the base Nov. 1 after a breakfast with Airmen-in-Training at the Tumbleweed Dining Facility.

The 82nd TRW mission is to train and inspire Airmen, responsible for educating over 62,000 students annually in nearly 1,000 courses including aircraft maintenance, civil engineering, nuclear and conventional weapons, aerospace ground equipment, avionics and telecommunications specialties.