News>Farris praises wing for MAFFS support, sees mission firsthand
Photos
Air Force Reserve Tech. Sgt. Gregory Aubuchon highlights the major benefits of the Joint Incident Site Communication Capability, or "JISCC" system to Maj. Gen. Wallace W. “Wade” Farris, Jr., as the general toured the 302nd Airlift Wing July 15 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. Farris, who commands the 22nd Air Force, the parent organization to the 302nd Airlift Wing, visited the wing to see its mission firsthand as well as gain a better understanding of its involvement with the recent Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or "MAFFS" activation to battle the nearby Waldo Canyon Fire. The general also coined a number of Air Force Reservists who had gone above and beyond in their respective 302nd AW positions. Farris visited the wing July 14-17. Aubuchon is assigned to the 302nd Communications Flight. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Stephen J. Collier)
Air Force Reserve Senior Master Sgt. Terry Brassard presents the 302nd Airlift Wing Family Day coin to Maj. Gen. Wallace W. “Wade” Farris, Jr., as the general toured the 302nd Airlift Wing July 15 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. Farris, who commands the 22nd Air Force, the parent organization to the 302nd Airlift Wing, visited the wing to see its mission firsthand as well as gain a better understanding of its involvement with the recent Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or "MAFFS" activation to battle the nearby Waldo Canyon Fire. The general also coined a number of Air Force Reservists who had gone above and beyond in their respective 302nd AW positions. Farris visited the wing July 14-17. Brassard is the 302nd Force Support Squadron superintendent and Family Day chairman. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Stephen J. Collier)
Air Force Reserve Maj. Gen. Wallace W. “Wade” Farris, Jr., 22nd Air Force commander, listens as Lt. Col. Monsita Faley explains the unique and beneficial relationship the 302nd Airlift Wing's medical squadrons have with one another July 15 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. Farris visited the wing to see its mission firsthand as well as gain a better understanding of its involvement with the recent Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or "MAFFS" activation to battle the nearby Waldo Canyon Fire. The general also coined a number of Air Force Reservists who had gone above and beyond in their respective 302nd AW positions. Farris visited the wing July 14-17. Faley commands the 34th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Daniel Butterfield)
Air Force Reserve Col. Kathleen Flarity welcomes Maj. Gen. Wallace W. “Wade” Farris, Jr., 22nd Air Force commander, to the Peterson Clinic July 15 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. Farris visited the wing to see its mission firsthand as well as gain a better understanding of its involvement with the recent Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or "MAFFS" activation to battle the nearby Waldo Canyon Fire. The general also coined a number of Air Force Reservists who had gone above and beyond in their respective 302nd AW positions. Farris visited the wing July 14-17. Flarity commands the 302nd Aeromedical Staging Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Daniel Butterfield)
Air Force Reserve Lt. Col. Lynn Jui, 302nd Logistics Readiness Squadron commander, explains to Maj. Gen. Wallace W. “Wade” Farris, Jr., some of the results associated with the squadron recently moving to a privatized transportation service July 15 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. Farris, who commands the 22nd Air Force, the parent organization to the 302nd Airlift Wing, visited the wing to see its mission firsthand as well as gain a better understanding of its involvement with the recent Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or "MAFFS" activation to battle the nearby Waldo Canyon Fire. The general also coined a number of Air Force Reservists who had gone above and beyond in their respective 302nd AW positions. Farris visited the wing July 14-17. Peterson AFB is located in Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Stephen J. Collier)
Air Force Reserve Capt. Brenda Miazga is presented the 22nd Air Force commander coin from Maj. Gen. Wallace W. “Wade” Farris, Jr., while he toured the 302nd Airlift Wing July 15 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. Farris, who commands the 22nd Air Force, the parent organization to the 302nd Airlift Wing, visited the wing to see its mission firsthand as well as gain a better understanding of its involvement with the recent Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or "MAFFS" activation to battle the nearby Waldo Canyon Fire. The general also coined a number of Air Force Reservists who had gone above and beyond in their respective 302nd AW positions. Farris visited the wing July 14-17. Miazga is assigned to the 302nd Aeromedical Staging Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration/Tech. Sgt. Daniel Butterfield)
by Staff Sgt. Stephen J. Collier
302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
7/17/2012 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- With the Waldo Canyon Fire finally out, the 302nd Airlift Wing received praise and support for their involvement in aerial fire fighting from Maj. Gen. Wallace W. "Wade" Farris, Jr., during his visit to the wing July 14 here.
Farris, 22nd Air Force commander, parent organization to the 302nd AW, traveled to Colorado to see the wing's mission firsthand, especially after the high operations tempo during the Waldo Canyon Fire call up. The general had an opportunity to see and meet Airmen from several of the wing's squadrons, including the 302nd Logistics Readiness, Maintenance, Aeromedical Staging, Aerial Port and Force Support Squadrons as well as the 302nd Communications Flight.
Commenting on the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or "MAFFS" mission, Farris said the aerial firefighting mission is "always important to many communities around the country, especially out west where fires are simply a fact of life."
"Obviously, that (MAFFS) mission became extremely important in Colorado Springs as fires were burning right in your backyard and many of our folks in the 302nd (AW) had to evacuate and saw their neighbor's homes go up in flames," Farris said. "And the response from our folks for that fire was outstanding. Every time I turn around I hear another story of some outstanding performance of folks working in the 100-plus degree temperatures on the ramp or our fuels folks servicing the MAFFS aircraft in as little as 15 minutes. That's just an outstanding response. The fact they that helped contain the fire and kept it from burning down more houses and doing more damage than it did was huge."
Farris continued by pointing out it was much more than just the C-130 aerial firefighting mission that defined the volunteerism of the 302nd AW.
"Something else that struck me about the 302nd (AW) during this emergency was how folks took in evacuees in the spirit of cooperation so folks didn't have to go to the shelters. It must have meant a lot to those who evacuated and I'm sure it did. So the whole response from the 302nd (AW) made me proud to be a Reservist and proud to be its (numbered air force) commander. This wing should definitely hold its head high after these last couple of weeks."
The general also presented his commander's coin to a number of Airmen who had gone above and beyond in their respective organizations. Staff Sgt. Timothy Parker, a logistics plans specialist with the 302nd LRS, and one of those Airmen who received a coin, said it meant a lot to him because he's "never met someone that high ranking before."
"It was an honor [to meet the general] and you never really think about that until it happens," he said. "I could never have gotten this recognition without my squadron and my commander giving me the support I needed."
Farris, who has served in the Air Force since 1974, also pointed out that despite ongoing budget cuts and other adversities in the Air Force, he could still see the "sense of pride in doing the job" of an Air Force Reservist.
"With all our units in 22nd Air Force, the motivation and enthusiasm is everywhere. Stepping in when need be to deploy, taking care of a fire in your backyard or even when you need to go somewhere else to fight a fire, our Airmen are still willing and eager to step up to the job and that always impresses and energizes me when I visit the units and listen to our Airmen talk. Their concerns are 'how can I train better,' 'when can I deploy' and 'what can I do more to be a better Airman.' That always makes me feel good and gives me a lot of confidence."
