KC-135, KC-10 & KC-46 Locations
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THE BOOM SIGNAL 2019 40th Anniversary Office of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force 1670 Air Force Pentagon Washington DC 20330-1670 5 June 2020 Boom Operators Worldwide, Greetings from the Pentagon! It is my privilege to pen this letter to In-Flight Refuelers around the world, whether you are part of our Active Duty, Guard, or Reserve Forces. During my career I had the opportunity to serve alongside Boom Operators at multiple locations. While assigned to Kadena AB, Japan, I saw tankers support stability in the Pacific and execute Aeromedical Evacuation operations. While Command Chief at McConnell AFB, Kansas, tankers made global reach and mobility possible. During my tenure at USAFE, Boom Operators fueled Air Power at the forefront, this time over AFRICOM. Congratulations on the 40th Anniversary of the first Boom Signal; a career field journal which has evolved to cover personal updates on the total force family of Boom Operators. I am happy to see inclusive, traditional events such as these still going strong. To this day, your career field has never strayed far from my mind. I appreciate your efforts in bringing the Air Force’s next generation tanker, the KC-46, to operational capability. Meanwhile, Boom Operators aboard the KC-135 and KC-10 continue to lead the fight worldwide. Thank you for your continued service to our great nation and know that truly, Nobody Kicks Ass Without Tanker Gas….Nobody! KALETH O. WRIGHT Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Boom Operators Worldwide, Greetings from the Gateway Booms at Scott AFB. Gateway Booms are assigned to Headquarters Air Mobility Command, USTRANSCOM (Combatant Command), 18th AF, the AOC, the 126th ARW and the 906th ARS. Most of these units are integrated with retired Boom Operators, Pilots, and Navigators creating policy, guidance, and accomplishing mission execution for Tankers and Boom Operators worldwide. During 2019, Boom Operators and the Tanker community achieved several milestones. The Air Force delivered the first KC-46 and continued to pursue system and program improvements while beginning to convert units. We also tested a new deployment construct, relying on entire squadrons rather than overlapping enablers. This upcoming year is already challenging with the KC-10 beginning divesture. This says nothing of the COVID obstacles in early 2020, but I know that Boom Operators everywhere will continue to execute the mission despite setbacks. Thank you to all active duty and reserve component Boom Operators and their families, for your dedication and sacrifice. The deploy-to-dwell ratio for Boom Operators has not decreased, as virtually every conflict and humanitarian operation requires tanker support. Our way of life is fortified by our career field. It goes without saying, Nobody kicks ass without tanker gas…Nobody! BRETT A. PROTHE, CMSgt, USAF HQ AMC 1A0 Functional Manager Contents Opening Letters Table of Contents Tanker Unit Locations Disclaimer Entries Location Organization Altus 54 ARS 56 ARS 97 TRS Boeing Field AFOTEC/DET 5 AMC TES/OL-C Fairchild 92 ARS 93 ARS 97 ARS 384 ARS 509 WPS Hurlburt Field Det 1 Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst 78 ARS 305 OSS Kadena 909 ARS MacDill 50 ARS 91 ARS March 912 ARS McConnell 18 ARS 22 ARW 22 OSS 344 ARS 349 ARS 350 ARS 905 ARS 924 ARS McGhee Tyson 134 ARW RAF Mildenhall 100 ARW Scott 618 AOC HQ AMC/A3TK HQ AMC/A3VK HQ AMC/A5QT HQ AMC/A10N HQ AMC/IG Selfridge 127 WG Seymour Johnson 77 ARS Travis 9 ARS 60 OSS Tyndall 601 AOC Appendix Boom Operator Coin & Card Rules SMSgt Albert L. Evans Award Recipients Boom Operator Memorial Names The Boomer's Prayer KC-135, KC-10 & KC-46 Locations SEATTLE (KBFI) FAIRCHILD (KSKA) MILWAUKEE (KMKE) TH th 412 TW 92 ARW / 141 ARW / 128 ARW SELFRIDGE (KMTC) nd rd th th th th 418 FLTS Det 1 92 , 93 , 97 , 384 ARS/ 116 ARS / LINCOLN (KLNK) 126 ARS 127th Wg 509 WPS 155th ARW 171st ARS 173rd ARS BANGOR (KBGR) 101st ARW GRISSOM (KGUS) RICKENBACKER (KLCK) 132nd ARS SALT LAKE (KSLC) SIOUX CITY (KSUX) 434 ARW 121st ARW, 166th ARS st th 151 ARW 185 ARW 72nd , 74th ARS 191st ARS 174th ARS PEASE (KPSM) EIELSON (PAEI) 157th ARW 168th ARW 133rd ARS/ 64th ARS* 168th ARS ` PITTSBURGH (KPIT) Beale (KBAB) 171st ARW th 940 ARW 146th ,147th ARS 314th ARS McGUIRE (KWRI) th TRAVIS (KSUU) 108 ARW, 305/ 514 AMW th th 2 ARS, 32 ARS, 76 ARS, 78 ARS 60 / 349 AMW st 6 ARS, 9 ARS, 70 ARS, 141 ARS 79 ARS/ Det 1 AMCAOS ANDREWS (KADW) 459th ARW EDWARDS (KEDW) MARCH (KRIV) 756th ARS 412th TW 452nd AMW 370th FLTS/418th FLTS 336th ARS / 912 ARS SEYMOUR JOHNSON (KGSB) 916th ARW th th PHOENIX (KPHX) 77 ARS / 911 ARS* 161st ARW KEY FIELD (KMEI) 197th ARS McGHEE TYSON (KTYS) 186th ARW 134th ARW 153 ARS KADENA (RODN) 151st ARS 18th Wing FORBES (KFOE) 909th ARS th SCOTT (KBLV) 190 ARW MACDILL (KMCF) th 375th AMW 126 ARW 117 ARS BIRMINGHAM (KBHM) 6th AMW 927th ARW 906 ARS / 108 ARS th 117 ARW 50th, 91st ARS / 63rd ARS th th ALTUS (KLTS) 106 ARS/ 99 ARS McCONNELL (KIAB) 97 AMW TINKER (KTIK) th, th 22 ARW / 931 ARW HICKAM (PHIK) 54 56 ARS/97TRS/ 730 507th ARW th 18th 344th, 349th, 350th, 924th, 905th 154 Wing AMTS/ Det 2 AMCAOS 465th ARS 203rd ARS ARS MILDENHALL (EGUN) 10th FLTS/413th FTG 100 ARW 351st ARS Color Scheme: AMC / Guard / Reserve / AETC / USAFE / PACAF / ACC / AFMC as of Dec 19 1 READER DISCLAIMER The Boom Signal is a private effort, compiled during off duty hours, and not sponsored by the USAF. The Boom Signal Editor is not responsible for the content of the entries. Unit submissions are only compiled; the original content is left wholly intact. It is the responsibility of each unit and their Superintendent to scrub the entries and ensure they are appropriate to publish on public media. Any content that is deemed inappropriate and/or disrespectful will be removed from this site. The Boom Signal Editor ALTUS AFB, OK 54 ARS “Jesters” Greetings on behalf of the Air Force’s premier Formal Training Unit, located at Altus AFB, the hometown of Air Mobility. This past year we produced more Boom Operator Initial Qualification students than ever before, besting last year’s all-time high. Simultaneously, we’ve grown many Instructor Boom Operators for the community despite COVID-19. I couldn’t be more proud of the Men and Women in this unit, as well as our unified efforts with the 730 AMTS, 97 TRS, AMC DET 2, 97 OSS, and 97 OG. They have not skipped a beat during this pandemic. Under the operational leadership of SMSgt Dieter and SMSgt Haas, the Jesters have gone from eight days behind the production timeline to an astounding two days ahead! This past year, they enabled our team to earn the coveted 97th Air Mobility Wing Flaming Spear Award… a first in Altus AFB history! All this despite geographically separated locations, Squadron organizational restructuring, class size restructuring, and drastic syllabus changes. Quality training to grow replacements continues… The town also grew this year, with the opening of a Hobby Lobby and Harbor Freight; we’re thankful for the increase in convenience and quality of life. Comradery is high and we’ve maintained a tight group which takes care of one another. Altus remains a stable, family-friendly place to serve, grow personally, and enable our nation’s business. One final thought…if you receive a non-voluntary assignment, or are considering “clicking the button” for an Altus assignment, know that it is now a three-year assignment. I encourage you to contact any of the professionals below, or anyone else who’s served here previously. Let us help you make an informed decision. I personally believe it has exceeded their expectations and has helped them grow in their careers, personal development, and family life. Don’t take my word for it, reach out! - CMSgt Calisi 54 ARS Boom Leadership CMSgt Matt Calisi: New arrival to Altus, we don’t have anything on him yet. SMSgt Jonathan Haas: Our Operations Superintendent, led us ahead of the student timeline, despite COVID-19. Goes hunting at least once a week, but never finds any big game. Just like on the foosball table. (S)MSgt Jamie Almquist: Our new Additional Duty First Sergeant fresh in from Guam. Who does this guy think he is, smiling all the time? Ousted Ol’ Pauly Boy as out dirty under-shirt, and got a line number for Senior in the same week! TSgt Anthonie Owens: New to CSS, after a not too shabby #7 high time flyer of the year. His hair is always out of regs but always high-speed. Sped himself right into the Exec shop. Great instructor, Next stop, CHIEF! Operations Flight MSgt Jason Duckett: Put on Master after what felt like days of waiting. Always DNIF, but an excellent crossfit competitor. No correlation. TSgt Andrew Lavender: The artist formerly known as Scheduling shop’s nightmare has now become Scheduling shop’s Savior. Is Budweiser vegan? He’s gonna need that. TSgt Jake Sarno: Our resident motocross champion. He got to Altus, and he was so excited to start teaching students, he made TSgt and volunteered to jump straight into scheduling. SSgt Owen Derksen: Relative newbie. He’s been here a while, but we couldn’t dig much up since he’s chained to the radiator with Cadwallader. SSgt Carter Russell: Wait, what’s your first name? Never trust a man with two first names.