MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - -- Twenty three deserving Airmen from the 193rd Special Operations Wing took an incentive flight April 9, 2017 on an EC-130J aircraft here.
The flight combined necessary, standard flight training for wing aircrew with the opportunity to recognize individual achievement. It began and ended at Middletown and included stops at the University Park Airport, State College, Pennsylvania, and Williamsport Regional Airport, Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
“The incentive flight program is designed to educate service members about Air Force aviation, to orient them to the flying mission, and to recognize their dedication and hard work,” said Chief Master Sgt. Bill Yingling, 193rd SOW command chief.
According to incentive flight program regulations, guard members can be nominated by their supervisors to participate in an upcoming incentive flight. Any flights are provided within approved flying hours and are subject to rescheduling or cancellation due to aircraft availability and/or priority mission requirements. Incentive flights are flown as continuous flights within the local flying area and end at the point of origin.
“While training for the aircrew is the priority, incentive flights offer the chance for us to reward Airmen, while helping them see how their respective jobs fit into and support the mission,” said incentive flight co-pilot Capt. Drew Wentz, chief of current operations with the 193rd Special Operations Squadron.
The training that takes place during the flight includes basic aircrew proficiency tasks such as takeoffs and landings, instrument and visual procedures as well as tactical approaches.
“This is a great opportunity for folks outside of our (operations) group that have less of an opportunity to get on one of our aircraft and for young Airmen who haven’t had this opportunity yet,” said Wentz.
“It was amazing to see what our wing does with the aircraft,” said Staff Sgt. Shawna Kennedy, 193rd SOW customer service representative. “We got to see a bigger part of the mission and how it affects other unit’s work.”
The wing hopes to continue its incentive flight program into the future. A second incentive flight is scheduled for May.