Reenlistment aboard KC-135 honors father-in-law
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- Reenlisting in the United States Air Force is a special occasion for many Airmen. Wingmen, friends, and family gather to celebrate as Airmen reaffirm their oath to protect and defend the constitution for several more years. Master Sgt. William Hinchcliff, 31st Security Forces Squadron operations non-commissioned officer in charge, says reenlistments have been particularly special occasions for him.
“The first reenlistment I did was on the Tigris River in Iraq,” Hinchcliff said. “I was part of combat patrols outside the wire. It was the first time [outside the wire] since Vietnam for our career field.”
Hinchcliff upped the ante for his second reenlistment, this time raising his right hand aboard a U.S. Army UH-1N Huey. His third took place on the capitol steps in Cheyenne, Wyoming, the closest thing to a true home the self-proclaimed “military brat” has. For his fourth reenlistment, Hinchcliff knew he had to do something big. Luckily for him, he said, opportunity came knocking in the form of a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker.
Hinchcliff explained he worked with schedulers from the 3st Operational Support Squadron during his time in the Inspector General’s office. He asked the question, and said they were more than willing to support.
Reenlisting at an altitude of 24,000 feet was exciting enough, Hinchcliff said. But doing it aboard a KC-135 was special for another reason.
“This is really a tribute to my father-in-law,” Hinchcliff said. “He was a KC-135 crew chief his whole career. We’re pretty close, I’ve known him since I was 16 years old. He is super excited. If he had the opportunity to be here, he’d be here in a heartbeat to try to go with.”
The KC-135s belong to the 141st Air Refueling Squadron, an Air National Guard unit at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. Hinchcliff and his wife were able to get spots on the flight as part of ongoing “incentive flights,” in which 31st Fighter Wing Airmen from various career fields get the opportunity to ride along during air refueling missions as a way to connect with the mission and broaden their Air Force experience.
Once the crew learned the significance of Hinchcliff’s reenlistment, they made every effort to make his flight even more memorable. He watched as the crew’s boom operator conducted air refueling of an F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 555th Fighter Squadron stationed here, and he and his wife were even allowed to ride in the cockpit during takeoff.
“It was an amazing, once in a lifetime experience,” said Hinchcliff. “I’m thankful for the opportunity.”
The reenlistment will take Hinchcliff past 20 years of service, but there’s a chance he will reenlist again during his career, he said. As for how he’ll raise the stakes on his next reenlistment – he says only time will tell.
“That’s to be determined,” Hinchlciff said. “I had four years to try and plan this one.”