LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- Team Little Rock welcomed Arkansas community leaders for a mayors’ tour on Sept. 24 to connect civic leaders with the base’s mission sets and highlight readiness efforts.
Jacksonville and surrounding cities are home to many LRAFB members and provide a variety of support to Airmen and their families.
“Being a mayor I want to do whatever it takes to be a part of the base and lend my hand in this partnership,” said Mayor Ken Kincade of Cabot.
Arkansas mayors who took part in the tour included Mayor Bob Johnson of Jacksonville, Mayor Joe Smith of North Little Rock, Mayor Ken Kincade of Cabot, Mayor Virginia Young of Sherwood, Mayor Charles Gastineau of Ward, Mayor Kyle Osborne of Searcy, and Mayor Trae Reed of Lonoke.
The tour allowed civic leaders to engage on issues important to Team Little Rock and become more familiar with the base's singular focus on providing combat airlift capability for the Nation.
The mayors went through the C-130J Maintenance and Aircrew Training System simulators, where they got to experience a flying environment through a static simulation.
Then they toured Detachment 4, assigned to the 373rd Training Squadron. Det. 4 is responsible for training and supporting over 80 Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve C-130 units worldwide, as well as maintainers from over 15 Allied nations.
“Little Rock Air Force Base has a lot of gems that I don’t think a lot of people on the outside realize,” said Kincade. “The people are one of its biggest assets.”
The day ended with a C-130 static tour and a visit to Camp Warlord - LRAFB’s combat training facility, used to prepare Airmen for challenges they may face in aerospace expeditionary force deployments. There, the mayors were able to see a mission oriented protected posture demo for a visual example of promptness. Herk Nation Airmen were able to display and discussed continuing readiness efforts that have led the way on training for Air Mobility Command.
“To see everything the Air Force is doing to be prepared in order to protect not just Jacksonville, but all of America, is impressive,” said Bob Johnson, mayor of Jacksonville. “They’re moving their mission to meet current needs."
Having a good relationship with community leaders not only builds a stronger community, but enhances a sense of connectedness for Airmen who live on and off base.
“Having LRAFB in Jacksonville is wonderful,” Johnson said. “The military personnel that live and shop in this town and surrounding towns are all great neighbors, citizens, and friends.”