GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The San Angelo Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitors Bureau representative Suzanna Aguirre toured Goodfellow Air Force Base June 12, as part of the city's efforts to increase tourism in the local area.
"There is interest by military veteran groups nationally to hold their reunions near military installations," Aguirre said. "The Chamber here thinks Goodfellow would be one of the great attractions to pull these veterans to the area."
Aguirre's visit began with a tour of the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy. The Fire Academy is host to advanced Fire Protection courses and an intensive Fire Protection Apprentice Course. The Academy services all aspects of the DoD including Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and civil service employees as well as numerous international students.
After touring the Fire Academy's Norma Brown trainer, a scaled version of a city and base used to give students a tabletop reference of first responder incidents, Aguirre observed various groups of students performing different scenarios of fire protection training.
Not far from the Fire Academy, Aguirre toured the DoD Firefighter Memorial, a park dedicated to fallen DoD fallen firefighters. The tour then highlighted the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance technical training campus, where the majority of the 2,800 Goodfellow AFB students train daily.
"I did not realize Goodfellow had so much going on," said Aguirre. "The base is very active and has so much to see and experience."
The tour concluded with a walk-around of the eight Air Force Historic Property Collection static displays, Medal of Honor POW/MIA memorial park, four trainer displays and windshield tour of the base.
Aguirre will take her experience of Goodfellow with her to several tourists, visitor and convention symposiums including a reunion network conference in September.