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Incentive flights: Recognizing deserving Airmen

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  • By Senior Airman Clay Murray
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany --  Some would argue the U.S. Air Force's most visible assets are the aircraft it employs in various wings around the globe. Others might say it's the people.

Air Force officials, however, make an effort to recognize the latter. They realize the importance of the physically smaller, yet still significant, force of manpower - also known as the Airman. One way to effectively do this is through the incentive flight program.

The incentive flight program here runs on a basis of availability from March through October, according to Lt. Col. Scott Babbitt, 52nd Operations Support Squadron director of operations. All Airmen and federal civilian employees are eligible for an incentive flight.

"(Incentive flights) provide a visible reward to military and civilian (people) for outstanding service and to motivate others to similar performance levels," Colonel Babbitt said.

Considering this type of program can be competitive, it's important to know just how Airmen should go about applying for a flight or recommending a colleague for the honor.

"Squadron commanders, chiefs, and (first sergeants) can nominate award-winning individuals to their group leadership for consideration," Colonel Babbitt said.

To step into an aircraft for a flight, Airmen are not required to cram all of the training and experience that pilots spend years perfecting. They are required, however, to complete four items: a flight physical, training for aircrew flight equipment, and in-flight emergency and exit procedures.

Staff Sgt. Asa McCurdy, 703rd Munitions Support Squadron maintenance team chief, flew in the skies above Spangdahlem AB March 10. He was selected for an incentive flight for receiving the 2009 Air Force Lt. Gen. Leo Marqez Munitions Maintenance Technician/Supervisor Award.

"I was attending an NCO professional development seminar March 4," he said. "We were in the motivation and team building section when Chief (Richard) Stover interrupted the class to congratulate me.

"I was ecstatic, grinning ear to ear. I couldn't believe that I was selected," he said.

According to Sergeant McCurdy, there are only a few requirement for selection for future potential incentive flyers.

"I recommend caring for and performing your job with pride and ownership," Sergeant McCurdy said. "Hopefully your peers and supervision will take note of the work and dedication and you put in."

Programs other than the incentive flight program include familiarization flights for those who normally have aviation-related responsibilities with aircraft and missions, distinguished visitor flights that display operations systems for a better understanding of a particular mission and spouse orientation flights to familiarize spouses with aircraft and the mission.
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