Community Engagement

 

Andersen Air Force Base's community engagement programs are designed to enhance morale, public trust, support and demonstrate that the Air Force is a community partner and a responsible steward of natural resources. We hope to increase public awareness and understanding of the Air Force's mission. Our goal is to foster positive relations and maintain a reputation as a good neighbor as well as a respected, professional organization charged with responsibility for national security.

Community News

Guam National Guard supports America’s National Defense Strategy

  • Published
  • By Sgt. 1st Class Jim Greenhill
  • National Guard Bureau

Guam National Guard members make vital contributions to the Joint Force team executing the nation’s National Defense Strategy, the National Guard’s most senior general told Soldiers and Airmen during a recent visit.

“Guam is strategically important to our national defense,” Air Force Gen. Joseph Lengyel said. “As we discuss in the National Defense Strategy, we’re in a time of increasing great power competition. Our adversaries are emboldened to threaten our national security and American prosperity.

“Guam National Guard members should be proud of the critically important contributions you make every day,” he added.

The Guard’s role in the 506th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron is an example: The 506th EARS depends on Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotankers to work alongside active duty and Reserve aircraft to provide the aerial refueling and airlift that supports critical U.S. Indo-Pacific Command missions.

The 506th EARS enables INDOPACOM’s continuous bomber presence and theater security packages.

A U.S. territory since the nation recaptured it from Japan in 1944, Guam is also a target, and Lengyel visited with Guam National Guard members who are helping secure key assets for the island’s defense.

He also stopped by the Guam Guard’s 254th RED HORSE Squadron. RED HORSE is an acronym for Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers.

Lengyel’s stop on Guam included meetings with the governor and Guam National Guard senior leaders as well as troop visits.

“Meeting with Guard members, learning from them, and sharing their story is the best part of my job,” Lengyel said. “It’s an honor to serve alongside the extraordinary men and women who wear our nation’s uniforms.”

RED HORSE squadrons provide the Air Force with a highly mobile civil engineering response force to support contingency and special operations worldwide. They are self-sufficient, mobile squadrons capable of rapid response and independent operations in remote, high-threat environments worldwide.

During wars, these Airmen primarily perform heavy damage repairs required for recovery of critical Air Force facilities and utility systems, and aircraft launch and recovery.

They also provide engineer support for the bed down of weapon systems required to initiate and sustain operations in an austere, bare-base environment, including remote hostile locations.

In peacetime, RED HORSE Airmen train for contingency and wartime operations. They regularly participate in major command exercises, military operations other than war, and humanitarian programs.

They also perform training projects that assist base construction efforts while simultaneously honing wartime skills.

Guam’s RED HORSE Squadron is an associate unit with the Air Force’s 554th RED HORSE Squadron at Andersen Air Force Base.

Since the Guam National Guard was established in 1981, members have responded to domestic emergencies, overseas combat missions, counterdrug efforts, and reconstruction missions. Guam National Guard members deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom in 2002, 2008 and 2013, and they are currently supporting the Multinational Force and Observers on Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.

Relatively near the International Date Line, Guam prides itself on being “where America’s day begins,” and it falls under U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s area of responsibility.

One of six geographic unified combatant commands, INDOPACOM encompasses about one-half Earth’s surface, stretching from the waters off the west coast of the U.S. to the western border of India, and from Antarctica to the North Pole.

Flyover Requests

The Community Engagement office helps facilitate flyovers and static display requests; however, the process does not start at Andersen Air Force Base. To start a flyover request, a DD Form 2535 must be completed and emailed to 36wg.pa2@us.af.mil and 36wg.pa.comrel@us.af.mil. Public Affairs will submit request for approval from the Air Force Aerial Events office at the Pentagon. Andersen AFB can only consider the request after it has approval from the Pentagon.

Flyovers are considered for aviation-related events and patriotic observances held in conjunction with Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, POW/MIA Day, or Veterans Day (event must be within seven days of the actual holiday dates to be considered). There are some exceptions to policies; those not meeting the criteria can possibly be approved one-time only as an Exception-to-Policy event, provided there is sufficient rationale for support.

Coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration is required for completion of the DD Form 2535. To reach the Pacific area FAA representative, please call (808) 837-8300. The flyover request process can take approximately 60 days to complete. Please plan to start this process 90-120 days prior to date of the event.

Base tours

The 36th Wing offers organized group tours to educate people about the U.S. Air Force, Andersen Air Force Base and its missions. While we try to accommodate specific requests to visit a particular unit or learn about a specific mission, please understand that our mission must come first. Tours are only provided to organized groups such as civic organizations, schools, businesses, and reunion groups. Unfortunately we cannot accommodate individuals or non-organized groups. Certain conditions and restrictions apply to all base tours. Tour groups must meet the following requirements:

Size:
Tours are limited to a minimum of 20 participants and a maximum of 45 (or the passenger capability of one commercial bus).

Transportation:
Organizations must provide their own transportation. Tours are limited to one bus. Requests to use multiple vehicles cannot be accommodated.

Dates:
Tours are only offered on weekdays. Tours will not exceed five hours to include a lunch break, if requested.

Meals:
Meal options on base is limited and only granted upon approval of the Base Commander. The Magellan Dining Inn is a dining option only for ROTC and JROTC detachments.

Mobility:
Modified tours may be granted to those with limited mobility; however, this must be stated on the request form. If not stated, it is assumed that walking and stair climbing is not an issue. 

Base Access:
Any group members over the age of 18 will have to provide personal information, such as driver's license number, date of birth, and social security number, for an Entry Access List, which is required for base access.

To request a base tour, a "Tour Request Form" must be completed and e-mailed to 36wg.pa.comrel@us.af.mil no later than 3 weeks from event date. If your organization has any questions, please contact our Community Engagement office at (671) 366-4202/2228.

 

36th Wing

Phone: 671-366-2228

Location:
Bldg. 23003 Chicago Ave.
Andersen Air Force Base, Guam

Mailing Address:
Andersen AFB, 36 WG/PA COMREL
Unit 14003, APO AP 96543-4003
Email: 36wg.pa2@us.af.mil

Customer Service Hours:
Monday to Friday
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Public Affairs

Flightline Photo Authorization Requests

Security an Policy Review

Social Media

 

Command Information

Camera Purchase Request

Photo Studio Support

Photo/ Video Support

Trademark Licensing

 

Community Engagement
Sister Village Sister Squadron Program
Base Tours
Aerial Event Requests
Flyover Requests
Environmental Public Affairs

Media Operations

FOIA Requests

Hometown News Release

Media Training

Media Credentials

Engaging The Media Training - Powerpoint

 

Sister Squadron Villages

Community Support

If you would like to request support from Andersen AFB for an upcoming event, go to the following linked information on how and where to make that request:

Flyover Request
Andersen Honor Guard

For activities not included on the list, contact the Community Engagement section one month prior to the event. Provide the basic information for the event (who, what, when, where, purpose of event). It is our policy to support as many requests as possible, but we are not always able to accommodate every request received.

For more information on the Community Engagement program, check out chapter 4 of AFI 35-105, Public Affairs Operations.

Our goal is to foster positive relations with the surrounding communities. Participation in community events by Air Force personnel is desirable and highly encouraged; however, limitations of time, money and mission requirements may make it impossible to grant all requests.