Having lived and worked in the South Sound for the last few years, Phyliss Bethel was familiar with the heavy military presence in the area.

But she had no idea what went on behind the gates of McChord Field. Now she knows perhaps more about the base's mission than she might have ever imagined.

Bethel, a senior loan officer with Cobalt Mortgage in Gig Harbor, was one in a group of about 40 local civic leaders who participated in a tour arranged by the 62nd and 446th Airlift Wings Oct. 28 at McChord Field.

"This is such a great education," Bethel said after she toured the inside of a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. "Since this morning they've enlightened me a lot. The tour is a real chance for people to get to see where their tax dollars are going."

Early on, Col. Bruce Bowers, 446th AW commander, greeted tour participants at the base's club and thanked them for coming.

"This is an important part of us building relationships," Bowers told the group. "This is our chance to show you what we do, because your support is critical to what we do."

The group then boarded a bus, which shuttled participants to a variety of locations, each painting a picture a differnet facet of the base's airlift mission. Visitors got to see what factors go into requesting, planning and executing a successful air drop; the process and strategy behind packing a parachute that is attached to an airdropped pallet; and the physical piece to loading and flying the aircraft.

"I sat in the pilot's seat," Bethel said. "What a great experience."

The feeling was mutual for Staff Sgt. Bradley Watson, a veteran loadmaster with the 10th Airlift Squadron who spoke to the assembled group about the mission, his experience and what he does on a daily basis.

"I wanted to give them a little insight about what we go through," Watson said. "It can be hard to explain to someone the amount of work it takes to get a mission off the ground. There are so many little pieces that fit into the bigger puzzle."

Watson, a Nashville, Tenn. native who was gone 283 days last year flying missions, has been at McChord for about five years. He said he routinely feels the love and admiration from the local community for the job he does, one of the main reasons he wanted to participate in the tour.

"You can really see the support when you go out to lunch locally," said Watson, who lives in Graham. "Numerous times I've had people offer to buy me and some of the other guys lunch."

Although he has yet to take anyone up on their offer, Watson appreciates the support.

"Just to hear that support gives you the strength you sometimes need to press forward," he said. "It's a nice little pat on the back."

Tour participants also got a chance to meet and hear from Col. R. Wyn Elder, 62nd Airlift Wing commander, as he talked them through a video of a C-17 airdrop at a small forward operating base in Afghanistan. The tour also included lunch - in true military style - as participants got the chance to prepare and eat an MRE (Meals Ready to Eat).

Elder said the tour is something the wings will look to continue to do about every three months.