Altus exercise inspires community trust, cooperation Published Jan. 26, 2009 By Kevin Chandler 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Having an up-close view of a C-17 Globemaster flying over the Rocky Mountains is not a usual event for Altus-area media members and emergency responders. But that's exactly what they saw during a crisis communication exercise conducted Jan. 22 by the 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs office, including a flight in a KC-135 stratotanker refueling a C-17 in flight. Passengers for the training mission included five executives from Valero Ardmore Refinery/VPP; 21 members of the 97th Maintenance Directorate/A-TEAM; and 32 members from on- and off-base law enforcement, medical, fire, safety and disaster respondse teams; as well as media representatives from KSWO-TV (ABC), The Lawton Constitution, Wichita Falls Times Record News and KWHW-1450 AM radio. Air Force regulations require commanders and public affairs officers to brief responders and media at least once a year. The crisis communication exercise focused on increasing cooperation and cohesion between base agencies and civilian media and emergency responders in the wake of a disaster or crisis. Past events illustrated the need for on- and off-base entities to work together to make the situation safe and keep the public informed. Exercise participants arrived early for a wing mission briefing and background information from Public Affairs on crisis communication. Col. David Allvin, 97th AMW commander, also spoke to the group about the importance of collaboration during crisis response. Group members then headed to one of two KC-135s for a better visual of inflight refueling. "It was really exciting to see first-hand what the 97th Air Mobility Wing does for the Air Force," said Stacy Horany, a reporter from the Wichita Falls Times Record News. Ms. Horany, who also writes for the Sheppard Air Force Base Senator, went on to praise the work of Altus aircrews. "Without these tankers and their crews, it would be impossible for Sheppard pilots to do their job here and overseas," she explained. The KC-135 passengers were briefed on the aircraft and the in-flight refueling mission, allowed to spend time in the cockpit to observe the pilots with a front-row seat to watch the C-17 refueling in action. The C-17 stayed attached long enough for everyone to take pictures and videos. "It's impressive to see two incredible pieces of technology flying so close together," said Oliver Knop, a photojournalist with KSWO, "and the view from the boom operator's station showed you how much skill it takes to do what they do."