During a training mission in March, 2022, an Air Force Reserve crew was reprimanded for making an unscheduled stop on Martha's Vineyard. According to The Martha's Vineyard Times, the detour was made on March 25 so that a member of the crew could pick up a vintage motorbike. The crew was part of the U.S. Air Force Reserve's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, 403rd Wing.
Based out of Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi, the Weather Reconnaissance Squadron is the largest flying group. Crew qualifications were downgraded for all members, and administrative steps were taken, following the unauthorized stop. “Air Force Reserve crews must put in flight training time each month to keep their qualifications, and off-station training achieves valid training requirements,” Col. Stuart M. Rubio, 403rd Wing commander, explained in a press release. “This personal stop was an abuse of government assets. We hold our reservists to the highest standards of conduct, and these actions are not tolerated.” He concluded.
