Team Seymour, City of Goldsboro provide inside look at mission

Senior Airman Austin Craven, 4th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, briefs descendants of U.S. Navy Lt. Seymour Johnson during a base tour, July 15, 2015, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. Craven explained duties and daily operations of MWD handlers and their canines. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Ashley Williamson)

Team Seymour, City of Goldsboro provide inside look at mission

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Michael Gilligan, 4th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, shows a child the different gauges on a fire truck at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., Oct. 9, 2013. Family members of Team Seymour are invited to join base tours through the Goldsboro Wayne County Travel and Tourism for a first-hand look at the base’s operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Nieves Camacho)

Team Seymour provides inside look at mission

Published Dec. 1, 2015
By Airman Shawna L. Keyes
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Every month, the 4th Fighter Wing hosts a variety of tours to provide the community a glimpse of the daily happenings at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina.

The tour attendees, ranging from high-school-age children to retirees, are provided an inside look at the mission of the base. Each tour attendee is able to observe Airmen doing their job, get up close and personal with the F-15E Strike Eagle and KC-135R Stratotanker, and interact with base personnel to get a better understanding of their day-to-day operations.

According to Betsy Rosemann, City of Goldsboro director of travel and tourism, the relationship between the base and the City of Goldsboro is an intricate partnership. It works on a daily basis to ensure that needs of the base and the community are met.

"Other than Wings Over Wayne Air Show, the public is not allowed normal access to the base," said Rosemann. "The city tour gives civilians an opportunity to see what our men and women of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base do on a daily basis."

People who are interested in a tour of the base can join a city tour by contacting the Goldsboro Wayne County Travel and Tourism office.

Tour groups are typically escorted onto the flightline to see jets, visit different squadrons, such as the 4th Civil Engineer Squadron fire station and explosive ordnance disposal shop and 4th Security Forces Squadron to view military working dogs or the shoot house, as well as a variety of amenities the base offers to improve Airmen's quality of life.

This tour is available to ages 10 and over and while each tour varies depending on the audience, once on the installation, each group is catered to by the 4th FW Public Affairs community relations section.

"Base tours give the people of North Carolina an opportunity to see their Air Force at work," said Robert Kerns, 4th FW PA community relations associate. "Many people see the uniform and know the work of the Air Force is important, but they have little idea of what these Airmen actually do. The base tours give our community an up close look at their local military and to see them at work. They are able to see what goes into getting the F-15Es and KC-135s up in the air and back on the ground safely on a daily basis."

In addition to monthly base tours scheduled through the city, the 4th FW conducts tours for Junior ROTC and ROTC cadets, as well as distinguished visitors.

"When the cadets come onto the base they are given an insight into a possible career path," Kerns said. "They meet people like themselves working on the jets and protecting their nation, and they think to themselves 'Hey, I think I can do that.'"

Community members as well as families of Team Seymour Airmen and civilians are invited to sign up for the monthly tours through the Goldsboro Wayne County Travel and Tourism office at (919) 734-7922. Junior ROTC, ROTC and distinguished visitor tour requests can be made by contacting the 4th FW Public Affairs office at (919) 722-0027.