AETC civic leaders visit 'The Rock' Published Nov. 14, 2006 By Capt. David Faggard 314th Airlift Wing Public Affairs LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- Twenty-six civic leaders from every major Air Education and Training Command unit around the country will call Little Rock AFB home Monday and Tuesday as they experience life as a Little Rock Airman. The semi-annual business meeting is a Headquarters Air Education and Training Command sponsored event that educates prominent civic leaders on current AETC issues and our mission here at 'The Rock' while interacting with and working side-by-side some of the finest Airmen in the world, according to Brig. Gen. Kip Self, 314th Airlift Wing commander. The AETC Commander's Group program allows prominent and influential civilians direct access to commanders while allowing a forum for the civilians to provide direct feedback to commanders on civic issues that might affect the Air Force and AETC missions, according to Gen. William R. Looney III, AETC commander. "The purpose of the Group is two-fold: provide important information on the Air Force and AETC missions to our civilian constituents; and obtain critical feedback from significant opinion leaders regarding community issues that have the potential of affecting our missions," said General Looney. "It's also a means of enhancing public advocacy and understanding." The two-day meeting will begin on the first day with headquarters briefings designed to inform the civilians on everything from the Global War on Terrorism, deployed medical operations, the Base Realignment and Closure process, to life as a basic trainee at Lackland. The second day of the tour will consist of a deployment scenario of deployment processing lines, weapons familiarization, a cargo airdrop from the back of a multi-ship C-130J formation and finally and indoctrination into the grueling Camp Warlord. Two civic leaders from each AETC base and one from each major AETC group participate in the annual tours and hold their position for two years, They're appointed to this position by the AETC commander in conjunction with a recommendation by AETC wing and group commanders at the base-level. Previous visits have been to Keesler AFB, Miss. and Tyndall AFB, Fla. "This is a great opportunity for 'The Rock' to shine," said General Self. "We maintain, defend, support and fly the newest and the oldest airlifters in the Air Force, day in and day out and never miss a beat. I'm proud that our base and our Airmen were selected to showcase our mission of training the world's best C-130 aircrews while deploying Airmen to the fight!" "Let me take this opportunity to welcome all our guests to 'The Rock,'" he said. "If there's anything you need, or any questions you have, grab anyone in uniform and you'll see why our Airmen make our Air Force the best on earth."