2014 Holloman AFB Open House: Community

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Calvin Powell
  • 16th Training Squadron, commander

"Legacy of Freedom:  Honoring the Past, Protecting the Future"

May 10 - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Gates open from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.)

As humans first began expanding their search for fertile lands and fruitful hunting grounds, they traveled and settled in small familial groups. Over time these groups formed into clans, tribes and communities. Their primary purpose was mutual survival. Our communities today, although not quite as apparent, exist for similar reasons.

 

Naturally, we all have strengths and weaknesses. The community enhances our strengths and makes up for our weaknesses. Collectively we become much stronger than we would ever be as individuals. Our Air Force also thrives on our sense of community.  It is a community molded by Integrity first, Service before self, and Excellence in all we do with the common vision of Global Vigilance, Reach, and Power. As part of the Air Force community we gain knowledge and uphold standards within our Air Force Specialty Code. We then use those individual strengths and skill sets to collectively perform the wing's mission. No part is more important than another.  Instead, each builds upon the others to achieve mission success.

 

Of course, our Team Holloman community is neither whole nor successful without the strength of our families at home and our friends in the Tularosa Basin.  Here at Holloman, we enjoy one of the best base-to-community relationships known in the Air Force.  In an effort to show our appreciation to our Alamogordo partners and invigorate pride in our military members and families, Holloman will open its gates to the public on Saturday, May 10, for its first Open House in two years.

 

You can expect to get up close and personal with more than 30 military aircraft, including Holloman's own MQ-9 Reaper, MQ-1 Predator, F-16 Fighting Falcon, QF-4 Phantom II, T-38 Talon, and German Tornado. With more than 15 aircraft performing demonstration flights throughout the day, the highlight will be one of the greatest open house demonstration flights ever by the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team followed by a Heritage Flight formation of an F-22, P-47, and P-51...do not forget your cameras!

 

The gates will open to the public at 9 a.m. As you make your way toward the flightline, you can enjoy the first flights of the day, as many of the aircraft will land at Holloman early that the morning. Many of the demonstration flights, including the F-22 demonstration at 11:15 a.m. and 2:52 p.m. and the Heritage Flight at 11:38 a.m. and 3:15 p.m., will occur once in the morning and once after noon. The final events for the day will end by 4 p.m. and guests will be expected to depart the flightline area relatively quickly so that we may return to normal operations.

 

This is our opportunity to honor the past, protect the future, appreciate the relationships we share with our greater community, and enjoy the celebration of the precious freedoms we protect as we serve. Fly, fight and win!