22 ARW Commander

As we get closer to the airshow, be sure to follow Frontiers in Flight Air Show 2024 - McConnell Air Force Base for the latest updates! ✈️

Thank you to the 157th Air Refueling Wing and our amazing 64th Air Refueling Squadron for hosting us. It was a fantastic event featuring two great leaders changing command to continue to lead the Airmen that fly, fix, and support the KC-46 to win!

Some say that smiling requires 12 muscles, while others say it only requires 13. Well, we’re always smiling when our AWESOME Col. Cory Damon 22 ARW Commander and CMSgt Laura Hoover 22 ARW Command Chief come out for lunch and conversing with our DFAC family. Come and dine with us and smiling from ear to ear 😃. Air Mobility Command McConnell Air Force Base McConnell 22nd Force Support Squadron 3F1 Enlisted Development Aramark Air Force Services (3M0X1) TRDI: Training, Rehabilitation & Development Institute

Hey Team McConnell! Are you ready to ROCK? 🎸🎸

Ahead of Rockfest tomorrow, we want to thank our rockstar sponsors!
J. Bias Real Estate Group - Keller Williams Signature Partners, LLC. Holiday Inn Wichita East I-35 USAA Mel Hambelton Ford and Friends of McConnell!

For more info on Rockfest visit https://refuelmcconnell.com/get-ready-to-rock-mcconnell

We are exactly TWO DAYS away from Rockfest!! There will be mouth-watering food and drinks for sale and plenty of fun for the whole family! Here’s a peek at the event line-up:
Saturday, May 18:
🎉Party starts at 3pm🎉
🏰 Inflatables
💦 Pool opens at 3pm
🎢 Carnival booths & games
🍺 Food and beer tents
🎶 Concert Line-up 🎶
Everclear at 6:30pm
Switchfoot at 7:45pm
Hoobastank at 9pm

The concert is FREE for all with base access. Remember to bring lawn chairs & blankets for you and your family. There will be water refill stations available so be sure to stay hydrated during the event as the day is forecasted to be 90 degrees and sunny! ☀️☀️

Check out the map below and plan ahead for the day of the event. For a full list of what to expect at the event visit https://refuelmcconnell.com/get-ready-to-rock-mcconnell/

Excited for our McConnell AFB team to be in such a great partnership that will increase the combat effectiveness of the KC-135. Stratotankers are ready today and will be even better tomorrow thanks to these innovative teams.

AMC’s New STRATO-gy: Industry Partnerships Advance KC-135 Maintenance Technology As the Air Force continues to reshape, refocus and reoptimize to deter and prevail during the Great Power Competition, innovation and sustainability have become critical in reaching that goal.

This was an absolute honor for me on Thursday night to represent the 22d Air Refueling Wing and Team McConnell as we recognized our amazing partnerships with local, county, state, and national leaders that care the most about our members, our families, our installation, and our mission, so we can continually operate the best, projecting airpower across the globe.

I was humbled to represent our amazing teammates and join the 931st and 184th Wings as we recognized Kara Hunt as our Golden Eagle #11 and honored (and surprised) Jack and Dayle Pulley with their family and friends, and sharing the evening with the tremendous support of our Honorary Commanders, our Golden Eagles, Friends of McConnell, and all of our other special guests at our inaugural State of the Base event. People Depend on Us…We’ll be There…Together.

McConnell AFB is now in Road Condition Red for base roadways due to icy conditions. Speed limit is now 20MPH base-wide.

‼ ATTENTION ‼

Due to inclement weather, McConnell is issuing delayed reporting until 10 a.m. on Jan 9 for all non-mission essential personnel. The Base Exchange and mall shops within will open at 10 a.m. and the Commissary will open at 11 a.m. Drive safe, everyone! 🌨🌨🌨

‼️ ATTENTION ‼️

Due to increased weather risk, McConnell is issuing a mission essential only status starting tomorrow morning. Expect minimized operations and limited base services, including base exchange and commissary closure. Use caution while driving and stay safe! 🌨❄️💨

McConnell Mondays! These images highlight our team’s initiatives from the last three weeks. I’m proud of our team’s continued excellence as we roll into the holiday season! DUCEMUS…We Shall Lead!

Chief Hoover and I had the pleasure of working beside the dedicated Airmen assigned to the 22d Healthcare Operations Squadron (HCOS) here at McConnell AFB. HCOS is responsible for TRICARE Operations, Patient Administration, Pharmacy, Logistics, Laboratory, and many other functions in our medical clinic. They ensure our 22 ARW members and families receive the medical services necessary to be ready and resilient.

Both Chief Hoover and I had fun with the team as we experienced what it is like for our team to be trained as new Airmen in the Medical Treatment Facility (MTF). We witnessed the benefit firsthand of Multi-Capable Airmen (MCA) and the future of our force as we practiced new skills on one another.

Lastly, we gained some insight on what it means to be a HCOS Airman and what their daily life entails. After our time with them, I’m blown away by their resiliency and drive for excellence. The 22 ARW is powered by the HCOS as they embrace our WINNING Team of Teams mindset. DUCEMUS…We Shall Lead!

Here is our McConnell Monday! These posts highlight our Airmen's outstanding efforts from the last week. It is my privilege to showcase what our team does everyday and our commitment to excellence. People depend on us...we’ll be there!

Our 22d Logistics Readiness Squadron consistently leads in collective readiness and ability to project power across the globe. I am grateful to join Chief Hoover on these visits as we experience, firsthand, the impressive skills and tremendous attitudes of our members that enable all of our teammates to win by delivering anything, anywhere, anytime! Thank you for the visit…letting us drive and push! We Shall Lead…Let’s Go!

We are showcasing McConnell Air Force Base to our incredibly supportive community with this fun 5K/10K run/walk event plus car show. I am incredibly proud of our team for putting this together and for Capt Maish’s interview on KAKE. Signup details are at https://www.refuelmcconnell.com/tanker-trot. To ensure security of our base and our participants, non-DOD ID holders must register for base access in addition to registering for the run. They are separate registrations. We hope you can join us!

**All non-Department of Defense (DOD) Cardholders must apply for Base Access on www.refuelmcconnell.com/tanker-trot. This includes all racers, racer's family, friends and other race supporters. NON-DOD CARDHOLDERS WHO DO NOT APPLY FOR ACCESS WILL NOT BE ADMITTED ON RACE DAY.**

Tanker Trot Capt. Caroline Maish discusses the 1st annual Tanker Trot at McConnell, taking place on September 23.

Team McConnell! I’m Colonel Cory Damon, and I assumed command last month of the 22d Air Refueling Wing from Col Nate Vogel. I want to thank all of our members and our McConnell neighbors for the fantastic welcome for me and my family. I am proud and humbled to be a part of this amazing team. I look forward to meeting and working with you all as people continue to depend on us across the globe and here at home.

Be safe with the inclement weather and enjoy your weekend!

Two years went by in a flash.

We strengthened existing relationships and built new ones in the local communities. We stopped doing things that added no value, and got busy solving long-standing problems facing our Airmen.

Most importantly, our Airmen led the way…showing the entire enterprise what bold operations look like as we moved the KC-46 forward by leaps and bounds. The 22 ARW was the incoming tide, causing all boats to rise.

I’m so very proud of our team.

N

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We’re just getting started. Here…we…go!

Team,

This upcoming exercise is different and we wanted to transparently answer questions that spouses, loved ones, and families may have.

I’m proud of our team as we redefine what capabilities tankers should provide to the Joint force.

The 22nd ARW is ramping up to for next week's EXERCISE LETHAL PRIDE, where will test deployment readiness and operations.

The link below is a memorandum from the installation commander, directed to the families and spouses of those Airmen participating in the exercise.
https://www.mcconnell.af.mil/Portals/27/documents/Lethal%20Pride%20Spouse%20Letter.pdf

Team - expect to see changes to the McConnell Gate 2 (i.e. the West Gate) hours starting 19 Apr. We’ll publicize the changes later through multiple forums. This note is to explain the reason behind the changes…

Our base Security Forces personnel (a.k.a our Defenders) have been on 12-hour shifts since June 2022. When taking all things into account, a 12-hour shift is actually a 14-hour day. The longer shifts were mainly caused by an increase in deployments. That increase caused less Defenders here to guard and patrol the same amount of installation and resources…leading to more work per person.

We got to work behind the scenes doing a few things that increase our defensive capability. We started a robust Augmentee program and purchased technology that upgrades our camera systems. It has made a big difference (it took time). We’re also shifting patrols - which is the reason behind the Gate 2 modified schedule.

What all those changes & upgrades do is allow our Defenders to go back to 8-hour shifts, and a more ”normal” life starting 19 Apr. They and their families have been sacrificing in silence for 9 months…Defenders missing big life events, and spouses at home picking up more than their normal share. I thought about our Defenders and their families everyday, and their ongoing sacrifice made us work harder and faster on the solution. I’m thrilled we’re finally there.

The upcoming modified Gate 2 schedule may make your life a bit more inconvenient. I’m sorry if it does. Just know there’s a really good reason behind it.

Food Truck Park here we come…grand opening in April!

Team McConnell lacked eating options. We brainstormed, decided on a solution, then acted with lightning speed. The photo of the old Burger King below was from late March 2022 - just 11 months ago!

I’m so unbelievably proud of the entire team that came together to make this initiative possible. We’re almost there…

Go 350 ARS go!

As my family and I walked on a local trail, we heard jets overhead. Looking up, we counted 5 KC-135s in formation, all lining up for the overhead pattern at McConnell. Simply inspiring.

Even better, about 15 people nearby on the trail, all out for a walk on an unusually warm January day, stopped and looked skyward. Everyone was silent as they took in the awesomeness of a large formation overhead.

The 350th, along with the 722 AMXS (Aircraft Maintenance) has been down in the southeastern part of the US, doing serious work for the past few days. Their detachment commander has been sending back situation reports (SITREPs) everyday, and the team simply killed it. The team (over 70 Airmen) even had to vacate their hotel one day and then still get the mission done. No sweat. I‘m so proud of them, and equally proud to be their commander.

As an aside, I do apologize for the suboptimal photo…I was juggling the phone in one hand and a kiddo on my shoulders.

We have started advertising where our Mother’s Rooms are for those who may need to nurse or pump. They are referred to as Mother’s Rooms, but of course dads are invited to use the rooms as well, as they offer a private, quiet place to feed your small kiddos from a bottle.

The primary users of the rooms are the building occupants, but anyone with appropriate base access (or flight line access for a few of the rooms right next to the airplane ramp) can feel free to use any of the rooms.

One of our Lines of Effort is “Create the conditions that allow McConnell families to thrive.” This is one small way we’re doing that. Personal testimony - I have kids and all of them nursed as infants. I’ve been there, looking for a private place to feed a crying baby. Hopefully this helps alleviate any of you from going through that while on base.

We’ll keep making McConnell better everyday…you deserve it!

Team - Min-Essential personnel for 22 Dec.

The weather is going to be rough tomorrow (Thursday, 22 Dec). Ambient temps could be as low as -4F, with winds up to 50 mph. Small amounts of snow (1” to 3”) are forecast, which could be exacerbated by the high winds.

We can call this one now. Let’s not have anyone outside or traveling to work that doesn’t need to be. We have already cancelled local flying, and have moved tasked missions to other locations so that our support, maintenance, and aviators won’t need to generate aircraft in the upcoming weather. The base will technically be open, but we’re going min-essential personnel for the day.

Squadron Commanders have wide latitude to determine who needs to come in and what services must be available. Those members of Team McConnell who aren’t sure if they should come to work should call their supervisor to find out. Those planning to come onto base for an event or service should call ahead to see if any adjustments need to be made.

Thanks for all you do! Stay safe and stay warm.

We may see small amounts of snow overnight coupled with morning temperatures around freezing. We have cancelled tomorrow morning’s Commander’s Update Brief because of that.

Overall, forecast conditions should have small impacts on tomorrow morning’s commute. The base will be open. That being said, give yourself plenty of time to get to work, and communicate with your supervisor if you think you’ll be late due to the weather or its impacts. Trust me, we understand.

You are the most important part of McConnell…please be safe!