PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld, Jr., commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, as well as senior leaders from both commands, visited the 302nd Airlift Wing July 26 to gain a better understanding of the specialized missions performed by the Air Force Reserve Command unit.
USNORTHCOM provides command and control of Department of Defense homeland defense efforts and coordinates defense support of civil authorities.
Reservists in the 302nd AW care for patients on aeromedical evacuation missions, and flight crews perform aerial firefighting with the Modular Airborne Firefighting System II unit. Wing C-130 aircraft equipped with MAFFS II units go into action during an emergency. The emergency must exceed the capabilities of local, state and federal agencies before USNORTHCOM becomes involved and calls on DOD support. The visit also showcased other capabilities wing reservists can provide to civilian-related missions if called upon.
Reservists in the 302nd AW have been flying MAFFS missions since 1993.
USAF. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Rosario "Charo" Gutierrez)