58 SOW photo flights: visual record of aviation professionalism Published Jan. 13, 2012 By John Cochran 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Kirtland Air Force Base, NM -- One of the best things about working in Public Affairs is having the opportunity to meet a wide variety of Airmen and learn about the work they do to support their units' assigned missions. Kirtland Air Force Base, with the host 377th Air Base Wing and more than 100 mission partners, offers plenty of that kind of opportunity. On Dec. 27 and 28, I had the privilege of flying on four 58th Special Operations Wing aircraft, escorting a photojournalist who was taking aerial photographs from a UH-1N, HH-60, CV-22 and the wing's newest plane, an MC-130J. The photos on these pages were taken during those flights. The 58 SOW's daily mission of training aircrews for special operations and rescue is a rolling symphony of moving parts, in tune with each other and orchestrated by leaders at all levels. There's an old saying that in any field of endeavor, "the great ones make it look easy." For the men and women I flew with, it seemed to be a walk in the park. Even in two short days, their professionalism and skill were clearly evident. They are obviously motivated, well trained and love what they do. What may not be as visible as the folks in the air but is just as valuable is the work of the aircraft maintainers and other support specialists who "keep 'em flying." In the Air Force, where excellence is the standard, we can sometimes become complacent and take achievements for granted. Experiencing American airpower firsthand on those flights renewed my appreciation for the capabilities of the 58 SOW in particular and of the Air Force as an institution. I'm convinced that if more people could have an experience like mine, seeing for themselves how well our Airmen perform their jobs, public support of the Air Force would grow even stronger than it is now.