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Vandenberg mission showcased during Armed Forces Day festivities
TORRANCE, Calif. -- Members from Vandenberg Air Force Base participated in the 52nd Annual Armed Forces Day military exhibits here May 20 - 22.
Exhibits from each branch of the United States military (Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard) were open to the public in the parking lot of Torrance's Del Amo Fashion Center.
The displays included aircraft, vehicles, support equipment and other military hardware. A rock climbing wall and service-specific games for children were erected for the three-day event.
Approximately eight representatives from Vandenberg manned a static display booth here, which highlighted various aspects of the 30th Space Wing's mission.
"Our display is about showcasing what Vandenberg has to offer," said 1st Lt. Pierre Gregoire, from Vandenberg's 2nd Range Operations Squadron. "The exhibit shows all of the vehicles that we not only launch, but also recover. We have basically a model for every vehicle in the family's inventory that we have at Vandenberg."
Under an Air Force-blue tent, surrounded by models of rockets and intercontinental ballistic missiles standing as high as nine-feet tall, the representatives from Vandenberg answered questions and talked with thousands of patrons about the role Vandenberg plays in providing combat capability to the joint warfighter through assured access to space and combat ready Airmen.
"We are here to support the Air Force and represent Vandenberg and the mission of the 30th Space Wing by explaining what we do and how we support the warfighter down range," said 1st Lt. Joshua Print, from Vandenberg's 2nd Range Operations Squadron. "I think it is very important for the American people to understand and know that they are safe and free in this country and that we are here to protect that way of life."
Vandenberg manages Department of Defense space and missile testing, and placing satellites into polar orbit from the West Coast, using expendable boosters (Delta II, Pegasus, Taurus, Minotaur, Atlas V and Delta IV). Base personnel also support the DoD's Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Force Development Evaluation program.
The Armed Forces Day weekend events came to a close mid-afternoon Sunday, May 22.
"This event was really important because it puts a personal face to the men and women in uniform," said Lieutenant Gregoire. "People see so many things about what the military is doing on the news and it's not always shown in a great light. So it is nice to put a smile behind the uniform and show people that we do other things than just working with military equipment."