1. 35 th AWACS Anniversary Yes/No? and our Options? AWACS Luncheon 23 March 2012

2. Welcome to our Guests Col Thomas E. Engle 552 ACW Vice Commander and Lt Col Greg A. Kent 552 ACW Director of Staff

3. Agenda Situation 2012 Our Case Options Decision (s)

4. Situation 2012 2012 marks the 35 th Anniversary of the delivery of the first Boeing E-3A AWACS to the USAF and the 552 AWACW (now the 552 nd ACW)

5. Situation 2012 Issue: The 552 nd ACW is no longer strictly a flying unit.  The 552 nd Operations Group is the flying arm of the wing with five flying squadrons, one training squadron and one support squadron  The 552 nd Air Control Group is the ground control arm of the wing with five ground based air control squadrons and two support squadrons

6. Situation 2012 Due to the current makeup of the 552 nd Wing Leadership feels it would not be appropriate to have an AWACS only reunion/anniversary Additionally, the wing has questions regarding the timing of the previous Anniversaries  Held in June in 1997, 2002 and 2007 March 1977 is when 1 st E-3 Delivered and when the 1 st Operational Flight occurred  Thus 1977 is the base year and Summer (June) was most likely chosen because it is the traditional time for vacations  In any case, the year is the correct starting point and the time of the year should not be the focal point for anniversary calculations

7. Situation 2012 We (the AWACS Community) are behind the power curve for any June Anniversary events 552 ACW has several change of commands scheduled for mid-summer For de-confliction purposes:  2-5 Aug 2012: AEW&C Reunion in Colorado Springs  17-20 Oct 2012: 623 rd AC&W Reunion in OKC

8. Our Case AEWA:  Comprised of AEW Unit personnel  The majority are E-3 AWACS veterans  Many are also EC-121 Connie veterans There has been an AWACS Anniversary every five years hosted by the 552 nd since June 1997 Many AWACS personnel (current and former) look forward to this event

9. Our Case The cycle of once every five years was purposely chosen so as not to place a burden on the current and former AWACS community and the wing In 2007 we all closed the 30 th events with the intent of meeting again at Tinker in 2012 for the 35 th Anniversary Since then little has been done to plan for any anniversary events in 2012

10. Our Case No 35 th Planning Committee formed No events are currently planned Yet there is an existing desire from the AWACS community to have a 35 th Anniversary and/or Reunion

11. Options Contract with a Private Company who specializes in Organizing Military Reunions For example:  A Complete Reunion (Web Site)Web Site  Military Reunion Planners (Web Site)Web Site  Armed Forces Reunions (Web Site)Web Site

12. A Reunion Planner Reunion planners can:  Negotiate and arrange Hotel rates  Arrange for Tours and Transportation  Arrange for Social Functions  Dinners, Banquets, Social Hours, etc.  Handle Registrations (Online registration)  On-site Check-in w/attendee Packets  Etc.

13. Event Options Icebreaker Reunion Banquet Farewell Brunch OKC, Bricktown and National Memorial Tour(s) National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Tour TAFB Tour and/or 552 nd ACW Tour E-3 Static Display (Dock 3) Golf Tournament BBQ Any other ideas?

14. Event Options Memorabilia:  35 th Anniversary Print (in progress)  35 th Anniversary T-Shirts  35 th Anniversary Coins  35 th Anniversary Ball Caps

15. Location Options Oklahoma City, OK and TAFB  Past reunions held here Others locations mentioned:  Dayton, OH and Wright-Patterson AFB  Destin, FL and Eglin AFB  Colorado Springs, CO and Peterson AFB  Pensacola Beach, FL and Eglin AFB  Las Vegas, NV and Nellis AFB Issue: not much time to arrange for a new/alternate location

16. Decision ? One, we do not officially represent the entire AWACS Community so what we decide here today is really just on us Two, if we opt to do something then volunteers are needed to make it happen and a planning committee needs to be formed

17. Decision ? If there is a decision to proceed with any 35 th Anniversary events we will have to engage the local Air Force Association Chapter for non-profit top cover  AFA Gerrity Chapter 215, TAFB, OK. Volunteers will be needed even if we opt to go with a reunion organizer

18. Decision ? Our Choices:  Give Up?  Go small but do something?  Go a bit bigger and attempt several events?  Go for the gusto and see what happens?