WINSTON S. CHURCHILL CHAPTER (RAF LAKENHEATH & RAF MILDENHALL, UNITED KINGDOM)
Chapter 13 is a consolidation of two UK bases and then some. The chapter president is Capt Jerry Ruiz and vice presidents are Maj LaRue "Russ" DeWald, RAFM and Lt Paul Weme, RAFL. Lt Mike Fleming from RAF Alconbury serves as the information officer with Capt Dan Jurgensen from RAF Lakenheath as the Social Activities Officer and Capt Ryan Coyne from 3 AF as the Membership Officer. The senior advisor is Col Audrey L. Wolff, 100 MXG/CC. Our executive board's home stations doesn't give our diversity in membership justice. The logistics officers participating in our LOA are from scores of units and come from across the UK. Currently, our predominant logistics challenge is the RAF Mildenhall runway closure. The scheduled Mar-Sep $17M runway construction project has dispersed KC-135s, C-130s, and C-12s to alternate bed-down locations. Logistics support planning for 100 ARW, 352 SOG, and Mildenhall's Navy Ops was tedious, but has resulted in a seamless sustained contingency response posture. Executing missions in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM continue to be accomplished as well as a myriad of training deployments and local exercises. Both bases have packed operational calendars and continue to carry out AEF, weapons training deployments, and temporary duty movements. Because of the runway closure at RAF Mildenhall, the base is stretching its logistics legs by performing air refueling, special operations, reconnaissance, and mobility from three different locations. These operations are transparent to the end-user (the free world), but have required a lot of planning and problem-solving. The methods to continue day-to-day operations are fluid, but in most cases challenges are anticipated and resolved before affecting the mission. The base continues to stand true to their mission: "Providing global power and global reach anytime and anywhere." RAF Lakenheath is playing host to some of the functions along with preparing for upcoming evaluations. The Heath will be experiencing four local tactical evaluations before a graded NATO Operational Evaluation in July. The OP EVAL will be coupled with a Logistics Standardization and Evaluation Team with deployments and the flying program not taking a back seat. RAF Lakenheath is renown for being the most inspected wing in the Air Force (or so we suspect). Most recently, Team Liberty sent out AEF 7/8 warriors and is welcoming our AEF Silver family back into the fold. RAF Lakenheath is the only base in the Air Force to have an official name, Liberty Wing, as well as a numbered designation, 48th Fighter Wing. Inspections, deployments, and teamwork enable a flawless execution of the mission: "To provide responsive air combat power, support and services to meet our Allies' and our nation's international objectives." Our LOA chapter goes beyond the logistics support front lines and meets to receive guidance and mentorship from general and field grade officers. Since July of 2003 we've been honored to host the following distinguished visitors: Lt Gen Michael E. Zettler, Deputy Chief of Staff for installations and Logistics, Brig Gen David P. Gillett, Jr., Director of Logistics HQ USAFE, Lt Col Phillip R. Frederick, USAFE RSS/CC, and last but not least Lt Col Eric C. Lorraine, 100 AMXS/CC, who is assigned to RAF Mildenhall and extended his experience during OIF as a deployed MSG/CC. For our next get together, we'll take a trip through the Greene King Brewery and examine the methods used to create and distribute a much-desired product in England. Who says professional development can't be fun? CHEERS! FROM THE UK!