News

Congressman's 'victory tour' first stop: McChord Field

  • Published
  • By Jake Chappelle
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. --  It's back to business for U.S. Rep. Denny Heck, 10th District (also home to JBLM), and his staff after a majority of voters in the South Puget Sound area guaranteed him another two years as a result of the Nov. 4 elections.

One of his first orders of business - check in on the 446th Airlift Wing.

The Congressman, who introduced the Servicemembers Opportunity Act (which ensures military can use the financial securities given by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act of 2003), and his team stopped by to check on the health of the Reserve unit, and get acquainted with its recently appointed commander, Col. Scott McLaughlin.

"I'm very pleased that Congressman Heck took time out of his busy schedule to visit the 446 AW, and see firsthand just a few of the many outstanding things we do in the defense our nation and promoting freedom throughout the world," the commander said.

The Representative's tour began with briefings about the missions his Citizen Airmen currently reinforce, largely Operations Deep Freeze and United Assistance, and the medical service functions.

Col. (Dr.) Paul Abson, 446th Aerospace Medicine Squadron commander, and ear-nose-and-throat physician with Everett Medical Center, filled Heck and his staff in on the current the current Defense Department procedures, which keep Reserve Airmen safe.

One aircrew member, Lt. Col. Jason Allen, a 97th Airlift Squadron C-17 pilot, spoke about his experiences supporting flying missions in and out of Senegal to give the Congressman an "eyes-and-ears" perspective of OUA actions. The Alaska Airlines first officer also informed the statesman on how Reserve pilots balance their Air Force requirements with their airline schedules.

Allen's fellow squadron mate, Chief Master Sgt. Jim Masura, 97th Airlift Squadron resource manager and Operation Deep Freeze expert, boasted about the significance of one of his favorite missions.

"To me, we often talk about the negative things that happen in the military," he said. "The biggest plus is we get to talk about something that's positive. (Antarctica) is a cool place to go, a cool mission, and it's good to let the American people know about this mission, what we're doing, and how their money is spent. It's great to let Congressman Heck know about this, not only because he needs to know, but so he can take ownership of it. People from his district are doing this mission. He can say, 'those are my people doing this great mission.'"

The second half of the visit was more visual as Reservists from the 446th Aeromedical Evacuation and 446th Aeromedical Staging Squadrons demonstrated the intricacies of the patient-movement process they implement when deployed in theater.

McLaughlin said he felt his Reservists successfully conveyed the 446th AW and Air Force Reserve messages to the Congressman.

"I'm pleased to know we have professionals in the 446th that can so effectively communicate what we do to those who work in our nation's capitol, and to the civilian community at large," he said. "Congressman Heck is a staunch ally of Team McChord and I look forward to nurturing the relationship that we have built with the congressman and his staff."

According to the Representative, the visit was time well spent.

"The briefings and demonstrations I observed further demonstrate the importance of the 446th to our nation's national defense," Heck said. "They are critical to our nation's national security strategy and a significant part of JBLM and the 10th Congressional District."