Features

Heart Link takes to the skies

October 26, 2017
Story and photos by Senior Airman Tryphena Mayhugh
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Capt. Jared Johnson (left) and Capt. Jared Reillings, both 37th Airlift Squadron pilots, land a C-130J Super Hercules while Stefanie Cooper, Ramstein military spouse, films it on her phone Oct. 17 on Ramstein Air Base. Cooper, along with other military spouses, flew in the C-130 for the Ramstein Airman and Family Readiness Center’s Heart Link program incentive flight.

For many military spouses, moving to a new area can present a number of challenges. In an effort to mitigate some of these obstacles, the Ramstein Airman and Family Readiness Center hosted its Heart Link program Sept. 28, which was geared towards information and networking opportunities for military spouses.

As an extension of that program, spouses who had participated in the event were able to take an incentive flight on a C-130J Super Hercules
Oct. 17.

Dyann Wenckus, spouse of 86th Airlift Wing Vice Commander Col. Joseph H. Wenckus, looks out the window of a C-130J Super Hercules flying Oct. 17 near Ramstein Air Base. Wenckus and other military spouses flew on the C-130 as an incentive flight as part of the Ramstein Airman and Family Readiness Center’s Heart Link program, which provides information and networking opportunities for military spouses.

“The flight was fantastic,” said Erin Heartless, Heart Link participant and Ramstein military spouse. “It was a beautiful day, a great crowd and the flight crew was amazing. Flying at such a low altitude, I don’t think very many of us are used to that, so being able to see that and the smoothness of the flight was a pleasant surprise.”

The C-130 was flown and manned by pilots and loadmasters from the 37th Airlift Squadron. During the hour-long flight, the spouses were able to visit the flight deck and move around the aircraft to take pictures or ask the crew questions, except for when the ramp door was lowered. At that time, all the participants were required to remain seated with their seatbelts on but could look out the back as the two loadmasters took photos for them on the spouses’ phones.

“I thought the flight went really well,” said Airman 1st Class Benjamin McElwain, 37th AS loadmaster. “Everyone seemed to have a lot of fun, asked a lot of questions and we got to open the ramp in-flight. The look on their faces looking out the window during take-off and landing is the same look I had during my first in-flight, so that was really cool. I really enjoyed it, getting to show off what I and the pilots do.”

A Ramstein military spouse records a video of the ramp doors opening on a C-130J Super Hercules flying Oct. 17 near Ramstein Air Base. More than 25 military spouses participated in an incentive flight with the 37th Airlift Squadron as a part of the Ramstein Airman and Family Readiness Center’s Heart Link program.

The target audience for Heart Link is military spouses who have been married for five years or less, but it is a free event for any spouse who is interested.

“The Heart Link program was different than we expected. It was great,” said Jessica Menasco, Heart Link participant and Ramstein military spouse. “It wasn’t just PowerPoint briefings but more engaging and networking. I would recommend Heart Link to anybody, whether they’re a spouse who just came into the military or have been in for more than 20 years. It’s very engaging with lots of good information.”

Heart Link is held twice a year, with the next event taking place Feb. 12. For more information about the event, contact the A&FRC at 480-5100 or 06371-47-5100.

Capts. Jared Johnson (left) and Jared Reillings, both 37th Airlift Squadron pilots, fly a C-130J Super Hercules while observed by two military spouses on an incentive flight Oct. 17 near Ramstein Air Base. More than 25 spouses participated in the flight as a part of the Ramstein Airman and Family Readiness Center’s Heart Link program.
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