Mayors visit Air Force Reserve headquarters

Maj. Don Schofield, commander of the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve, speaks to Middle Georgia mayors about the band during a luncheon June 3, 2011, at Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Ga. Maj. Gen. Craig Gourley, AFRC vice commander, hosted Warner Robins Mayor Chuck Shaheen, Perry Mayor Jimmy Faircloth, Dublin Mayor Phil Best Jr., Macon Mayor Robert Reichert, Centerville Mayor John Harley and Fort Valley Mayor John Stumbo at the headquarters. The mayors learned about the Air Force Reserve mission, contribution and impact on the local communities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Gary Cutrell)

Mayors visit Air Force Reserve headquarters

Attending the mayors' luncheon June 3, 2011, from left to right, are Bud Redmond, director of staff at Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Ga.; Perry Mayor Jimmy Faircloth; Fort Valley Mayor John Stumbo; AFRC Command Chief Master Sgt. Dwight Badgett; Warner Robins Mayor Chuck Shaheen; AFRC Vice Commander Maj. Gen. Craig Gourley; Macon Mayor Robert Reichert; Dublin Mayor Phil Best; and Centerville Mayor John Harley. The general invited the mayors to lunch with him and key headquarters staffers, so they could learn about the mission of the Air Force Reserve and its impact on the surrounding communities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Gary Cutrell)

Area mayors visit Air Force Reserve headquarters

Published June 7, 2011
By Ms. Candice Allen
Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga -- Mayors John Stumbo of Fort Valley, Robert Reichert of Macon, Chuck Shaheen of Warner Robins, John Harley of Centerville, Jimmy Faircloth of Perry and Phil Best of Dublin, met with Maj. Gen. Craig Gourley, vice commander of AFRC, and other senior leaders for a working lunch June 3. They talked about the Air Force Reserve's mission, capabilities and contributions to the local community.

"The luncheon was just another way to emphasize the strong partnership the Air Force Reserve Command has with the Middle Georgia region," said General Gourley.

The mayors received briefings on a myriad of topics from the command's economic impact locally and nationally to global operations, recruiting and Total Force Integration within headquarters.

Col. Charles Osteen, deputy director (combat) of AFRC's Air, Space, and Information Operations, gave the mayors a snap shot of the missions the Air Force Reserve performs for the Air Force.

"What I found enlightening was the depth in which the Air Force Reserve is involved in every facet of the mission of the U.S. Air Force," said Mayor Harley.

Mayor Best agreed. "I was surprised to learn what a huge part the Reserve play in the day-to-day task of protecting our country and the percentage of missions they are responsible for," said Mayor Best. "It kind of dispels the notion of the Reserve being just weekend warriors."

Other than the briefings, meeting senior AFRC leaders also proved important in enhancing community relations.

"The conversation prior to our lunch meeting (with General Gourley and staff) was most enjoyable finding out the team members' backgrounds and where they lived," said Mayor Best.

"I feel I am speaking for all the mayors when I say we came away from the luncheon with a much greater knowledge of the commitment of the Air Force," Mayor Harley said.