Part Of Statewide Tour Of Military Facilities

Officials from the 97th Air Mobility Wing at Altus Air Force Base welcomed the 5th district congresswoman of Oklahoma April 9 as she toured the base for her assessment of the state's military readiness.

Rep. Mary Fallin is currently the only Oklahoma member of the House Armed Services Committee in Washington, DC, and has spent the last few months visiting military facilities in the state as part of her position to oversee military readiness, training, logistics and maintenance programs.

Congresswoman Fallin was greeted by Col. David Allvin, the 97th AMW commander, prior to touring the southern Oklahoma base. She said one of the needs discussed was for a bigger base fire station. Also highlighted was the voluntary protection program, which promotes effective worksite-based safety and health.

"I saw some tremendous efforts being done on worker safety and processes and bringing the employees in with the employers, especially in the area of safety and workers compensation," Congresswoman Fallin said.

The trip concluded with static tours of a C-17 Globemaster III and KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft. The congresswoman said she appreciates the hospitality of base officials in helping her to fulfill her job on the Armed Services Committee.

"I have to say I'm very impressed with all that I've seen today," Fallin said. "To learn that there are so many different countries dependent upon the training of pilots here, the refueling efforts, the medical efforts -- just to see the total picture of the missions being performed at Altus Air Force Base reassures me that we're doing a super job here in Oklahoma. And I'm very proud of this base.

"One of the things I wanted to do here was see what we need at this base (and) how we as a state can support it," the congresswoman said. "We can support the mission of our men and women in war and take that information back to Washington and be able to represent our needs here."

(Aero-News salutes Kenneth Scarle, 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs)

FMI: www.altus.af.mil