Civic leaders tour San Antonio

Tech Sgt. David Fink (left) of the 433rd Airlift Wing, Joint Base San Antonio, talks about his job as a C-5 Galaxy loadmaster Thursday to Matt Turlinski, chairman of the Rehoboth Beach (Del.)-Dewey Beach (Del.) Chamber of Commerce (center) and Joseph Swiski, chief of administration for the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security. The men were among 29 civic leaders on an overnight tour to Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chief Master Sgt. Matt Proietti)

Civic leader tour of Texas

Beth Canalichio and Cheryl Parker (partially hidden) bid farewell to Chief Master Sgt. Richard Pena after touring an F-16 Fighting Falcon Aug. 24, 2012, at Joint Base San Antonio as part of a civic leader tour to Texas sponsored by the 512th Airlift Wing, Dover Air Force Base, Del. Canalichio is in private practice as a clinical social worker in Dover, Del., while Parker is a vice president with PATS Aircraft Systems in Georgetown, Del. Pena is chief of maintenance for the 149th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, an Air National Guard unit. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chief Master Sgt. Matt Proietti)

Civic leaders complete Texas tour

Published Aug. 28, 2012

SAN ANTONIO -- The 512th Airlift Wing hosted a trip to Join Base San Antonio Aug. 23-24 so 29 Delaware civic leaders could learn more about military missions here and in Texas.

"It was top notch," said Rob Moran, assistant vice president of Wilmington (Del). Trust. "You get to see a side of the military that you wouldn't normally see."

Moran said he was most impressed with the group's visit to the Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center, which provides outcare services to GIs who have lost limbs or suffered severe burns.

"You don't realize how much goes into caring for people like that," he said.

Upon arrival in Texas, the Delaware contingent visited the Air Force Reserve Command's 433rd Airlift Wing and toured a C-5 Galaxy with flight crew members. The next morning, they attended an Air Force Basic Military Training graduation and toured the Air National Guard's 149th Fighter Wing. That afternoon, they visited the Center for the Intrepid and U.S. Army Medical Department Center at Fort Sam Houston.

While participants paid for their lodging and meals, the Air Force provided transportation aboard a C-17 Globemaster III that underwent in-air refueling training for the crew on the way to the Lone Star State.