301st FW goes above and beyond for 307th BW Airmen

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Ted Daigle
  • 307th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
Barksdale AFB, La. --  When Senior Airman Kimberly Simon stepped down from the F-16 Fighting Falcon at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas, it was clear from the ear-to-ear grin on her face she had enjoyed the flight. On July 9, 2011, Simon, a flight avionics apprentice assigned to the 917th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, was given a ride on the F-16 for being the 307th Bomb Wing's Airman of the Year for 2010.

Traditionally, annual award winners at the 307th BW are treated to an incentive ride on a B-52 Stratofortress. This year, for the first time, the rewards for the 307th BW Noncommissioned Officer and Airman of the Year recipients were slightly different, thanks to a few dedicated members of the 917th Fighter Group here, and the 457th Fighter Squadron, at NAS Fort Worth JRB, Texas.

Brig. Gen. John J. Mooney, III, the commander of the 307th BW and Col. James Macaulay, the former deputy commander for the 917th FG along with Chief Master Sgt. Cary Johnson, 917 FG superintendent, coordinated efforts with the 301st Fighter Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Bruce Miller and Lt. Col. Eric Maurer, the commander of the 457th FS, to schedule what would be a life-changing experience for two 307th BW Airmen.

Simon and Tech. Sgt. Jeff Walston, a public affairs technician with the 307th BW at Barksdale and the 307th BW's NCO of the Year for 2010, were both excited when they were told there was a chance they would be able to ride in what is described in the incentive flight information as "the most amazing, high performance jetfighter in the world!"

"In 1982, I wrote down a list of goals for my life, and being successful enough to get a ride on a military fighter jet was on the list," Walston said. "I really can't explain what I was feeling when I got the word about the F-16 ride but excited would probably cover it."

Macaulay said doing something different and exposing Airmen to the fighter side of the composite mission at Barksdale, was one reason for scheduling a flight on an F-16. He also hopes the change provides increased incentive to build the NCO and Airman of the Year program at Barksdale.

"Rides in a B-52 are great motivation, but we want a way to offer some different incentives," Macaulay said. "We also want to continue to provide motivation for Airmen to up their game and for supervisors to nominate and recognize the top performers. Since there are no family model A-10's, the next best thing in the fighter world is a ride in the Viper."

Setting up the F-16 ride required considerable coordination between Mooney, Macaulay and Miller. The coordination was aided by the fact that Miller previously served as vice commander for the recently deactivated 917th Wing, said Macaulay.

Once times and dates for the incentive rides were determined, Senior Master Sgt. Joel Womack, the 917th FG flight equipment superintendent, began to work with Senior Master Sgt. Robert Safley, the 457th FG flight equipment superintendent to make sure Walston and Simon trained for the flight.

"This was really a team effort between the units," said Safley. "Sergeant Womack even came out with Simon and Walston to help coordinate the event."

Although the flights were to launch while the squadron was in the middle of a training exercise, and there last minute pilot changes, everything moved forward professionally and seamlessly, according to Walston. The participants praised both Capt. Christopher Bachelor, who piloted the F-16 ride with Simon, and Lt. Col. David Twist, who piloted the ride with Walston, for their involvement in this event.

"The time and effort put into this life changing experience is really appreciated," said Simon. "This experience, in a way, has opened me up to being a pilot. Now, I have more incentive and drive to achieve more."

Being the first time an F-16 ride has been offered to the wing's top Airmen, all responses to the new program from the participants have been positive. According to Walston and Simon, the program designed to motivate 307th BW, and 917 FG Airmen to achieve greater things in their military career is a total success.