Dobbins does lunch with Hercules Council Published Aug. 9, 2012 By Senior Airman Elizabeth Van Patten th Airlift Wing Public Affairs DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- The 94th Airlift Wing at Dobbins Air Reserve Base hosted the Hercules Council, a grassroots base community council named in honor of the wing's trademark transport aircraft fleet, on Aug 9 at the Consolidated Club on base. This was the last Hercules Council meeting of the fiscal year, which ends in Sept. It opened with Col. Steven Clayton, 94th Operations Group commander, and Kenneth Williams, base civil engineer. Clayton and Williams each spoke to the council about several points. Clayton touched on the changes that the base will have to prepare for due to the projected receipt of the C-130J. Currently, Dobbins operates the C-130H. Changes that will be implemented will include modifications to the hangars on base. The J-model is significantly longer, therefore, the hangar space will need to be enlarged to accommodate the newer model C-130. Also, while over 100 Dobbins Airmen have been deployed to the Middle East, an additional 100 Airmen were sent to Maxwell Air Force Base while the runway was shut down for scheduled maintenance in July, according to Clayton. During July, several projects were accomplished, added Williams. Rubber from landing gear was cleaned off, the sealant between slabs was replaced along the whole length of the runway and the aircraft restraint system was removed from the runway. The restraint system was in place during the production of F-22s at Lockheed Martin. Now, that production has concluded, the restraint system will no longer be needed for the fighters. Following the high-powered luncheon, council members were met at the base headquarters building by members of the base honor guard. The council was treated by a brief rifle demonstration. Honor Guard members also fielded several questions posed by council members, such as how many funerals the honor guard has participated in and how the honor guard keeps from losing their bearing during such somber events. "The Dobbins Honor Guard was present at approximately 250 funerals last year," said Master Sgt. Aaron Albright, Dobbins Honor Guard superintendent. We each deal with the feelings generated from the high volume of funerals differently, Albright said. However, we all try to keep in mind the sacrifice of the servicemember and honor their memory. The members of the honor guard capped off the day with a flag-folding lesson, during which Ashley Vandiver, Secure Works public relations director, was called upon to test her own flag-folding skills in front of the crowd. Vandiver admitted to never folding a flag before, yet completed the task admirably. The next Hercules Council meeting is scheduled for Dec. 6. For information about attending the Hercules Council or other Dobbins ARB outreach programs and opportunities, contact James Branch at 678-655-5055.
