TOP STORY >> Little Rock AFB hosts Arkansas Military Expo

By Senior Airman Mercedes Taylor 

19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Little Rock Air Force Base is hosting the 2016 Arkansas Military Expo Sept. 17, 2016. The base will open its gates to the public from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and showcase military capabilities to spectators. 

Little Rock AFB partnered with local communities and other Arkansas military organizations to bring the event to the public. 

“Coordinating the expo has been a total team effort with the 19th Airlift Wing, 314th Airlift Wing, 189th Airlift Wing and 913th Airlift Group,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Julie Honeycutt, the 2016 Arkansas Expo organizer. “We’ve also coordinated with the Arkansas Army National Guard as well as units from Fort Smith and Camp Robinson.”

The expo will feature a variety of events such as flybys and static displays of aircraft including the MQ-9 Reaper, T-6A Texan II, C-130H and J Hercules as well as historical “warbirds” such as the AT-6, PT-17, CJ-6 and P-51. 

Installation and local authorities are teaming together to ensure the spectators have a safe and enjoyable experience. 

“Safety is our top priority,” Honeycutt said. “The 19th Security Forces Squadron, the fire department and emergency management team are coordinating with our partners off base to ensure security and to make sure everyone is having a good time.”

Community members have played a vital role in composing the expo. Events such as the Arkansas Military Expo highlight the strong bond between the military and its surrounding communities.

 “It’s a very good partnership,” said DannaKay Duggar, Jacksonville Museum of Military History director. “We get huge support from the base. Little Rock Airmen have been very helpful with projects we have had here, like the annual Welcome Home Vietnam Vets event.” 

Although many will be there to witness Combat Airlift, the expo also serves as an opportunity for the community to see the impact of their partnerships with the base.

“It’s awesome to see how involved a community is and how supportive they are,” Honeycutt said. “Military members throughout Arkansas are supported by their local communities and this event is an opportunity to show the community what their neighbors do each and every day.”

For more details about the Arkansas Military Expo, visit www.rockinattherock.com/arkansasmilitaryexpo.