BRIEFLY

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Mar 27, 2006 | by THE GAZETTE

Northern Command hosts tour for 30

Northern Command, based at Peterson Air Force Base, last week hosted its fourth National Civil Leader Tour.

The tour for about 30 civic leaders from across the nation included visits to Peterson, which also is headquarters for the North American Aerospace Defense Command; Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center, Colorado Springs; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans; Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi; Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida; and San Antonio and El Paso, Texas.

Michael Perini, NorthCom and NORAD director of public affairs, said the tours are "designed to increase community leaders' awareness and understanding of the military's role in national security by inviting groups of civilian opinion leaders to witness military missions."

Participants, who pay their own expenses, were nominated by NorthCom.

Peterson reservists head to Middle East

More reservists from Peterson Air Force Base's 302nd Airlift Wing have headed to the Middle East as part of the unit's deployment.

A group of 15 left Peterson on Saturday on their trip to a base in Qatar, which planes from the wing use as a center of operations while flying supply missions into Iraq and Afghanistan. Using four- engine C-130 planes, the wing has flown hundreds of supply flights, an effort that helps the Army and Marine Corps keep trucks off of bomb-laden roads.

Since the reserve unit was called up for duty in August, more than 300 airmen have served overseas. Now, more than 130 airmen from the wing are deployed.

Forrestal having summer reunion

The USS Forrestal CVA/CV/AVT- 59 annual reunion will be Aug. 29- Sept. 3 in Baltimore. The reunion is open to everyone who served aboard Forrestal in any capacity.

For information, contact Jim Stewart, 21 Viburnum Lane, Levittown, PA 19054-1307 or call 1-888-434-5955.