Civic Leaders Invited to Tour MHAFB Published Nov. 13, 2019 By Airman Natalie Rubenak 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Running an Air Force base without the support of the local community can be incredibly difficult. To build upon the trust Gunfighters have already established, the 366th Fighter Wing held a civic leader tour, Nov. 7, 2019. Officials from Mountain Home and Boise were invited to come on base and visit different squadrons to see what the Gunfighters’ day-to-day job looks like. "Since some service members live in Boise, doing a tour like this, while getting to know the Airmen that live there, is something I've always wanted to do,” said Lauren McLean, Boise City Council president. “I have really enjoyed getting to know the service men and women on this tour and look forward to continuing a relationship between the city and the base.” The tour began at the Gunfighter Club where Col. Rick Goodman, 366th FW commander, set the tone with some welcoming remarks. The tour consisted of splitting the group up and spending time in different areas. Officials visited aerospace propulsion, crash recovery and aerospace ground equipment. They were given the opportunity to watch an aircraft engine run in the base’s enclosed testing facility commonly referred to as a “hush house.” Providing local community leaders with the experience of meeting Airmen shines a light on the support they provide. Working hand-in-hand with the community keeps Gunfighters working at their best. Having this working relationship benefits both the base and the community to keep our relationships strong. “We do a lot of emails and phone calls, so finally putting a face to the name was incredible,” said Lt. Col. Joshua Payne, 366th FW chaplain. “It helps strengthen those important relationships.”