Families take flight during Commando Spouse Day

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Joe McFadden
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  More than 300 spouses of 1st Special Operations Wing Airmen flew on wing aircraft and received in-depth mission briefs as part of Commando Spouse Day at Hurlburt Field May 19.

The program is intended to familiarize families with the aircraft their Air Commando spouses operate and the missions they execute "any time, any place."

"There is far more gained than just a good time and an aircraft ride," said Maj. Zak Blom, 1st SOW Programs and event coordinator. "This is a unique opportunity for spouses to learn what the wing actually does. Whether their spouse flies, works on the aircraft or works in the huge support and medical structure that exists to keep wing personnel happy and healthy, all of the effort comes down to supporting the wing mission."

More than 70 volunteers from the 1st Special Operations Group briefed their squadron's mission and flew the spouses in nine different wing aircraft including an AC-130U gunship from the 4th Special Operations Squadron, a CV-22 Osprey from the 8th Special Operations Squadron and U-28As from the 34th and 319th Special Operations Squadrons.

Personnel from the 1st Special Operations Support Squadron demonstrated their squadron's capabilities with tours of the control tower and boat rides in the sound. The 19th Special Operations Squadron also accompanied spouses with flight simulators featuring Hurlburt aircraft.

LaDawn Sheets, wife of Lt. Col. Darryl Sheets, Air Force Special Operations Command, rode on a UH-1N flown by the 6th Special Operations Squadron. While looking out the side of the aircraft, she said she was able to see rays, dolphins and sharks swimming in the waters along the Emerald Coast.

"This was my first time flying in a helicopter and it was amazing," Sheets said. "It was fabulous to see how many aircraft the wing has and to have received briefings about what they do. It's very nice, because you don't always get the explanation."

While the event encompassed personnel and aircraft from many units on base, Blom said the day also served as much more than a great morale builder.

"The wing as a whole really supported the event," Blom said. "We had great participation both from the attendees and volunteers. And as I told many of the spouses, the amount of effort put into this single day event pales in comparison to what we ask from our families on a regular basis. That simple fact makes all of the time and resources put in well worth it."

Many spouses like Christmas Kitko, wife of Capt. Paul Kitko, 1st SOSS, said they agreed.

"This helps us feel connected," Kitko said. "When they deploy, we feel so far apart from them. But this reaffirms that they are concerned for us and that the Air Force cares as much for us as they do for our spouses."