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Commander's Call ensures Airmen in the know

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kali L. Gradishar
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  The base theater was filled to the brim Sept. 28 as members of Team Fairchild crowded in for the Commander's Call. Col. Thomas Sharpy, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, led the commander's call through topics such as the interdependent fight, priorities, the association between the 92nd and 141st Air Refueling Wings, force development, and other key information.

Importance was placed on the fact that, as a nation at war, the U.S. Air Force must fight the interdependent battle and maintain communication with its sister services.

"We are a nation at war," Colonel Sharpy stated. "But it's not just Fairchild, it's not just Air Mobility Command and it's not just the United States Air Force that's fighting."

Also mentioned were the Air Force Chief of Staff's priorities, included winning the war on terror, developing and caring for Airmen and their families, and recapitalizing and modernizing our aircraft, satellites and equipment.

We must understand Gen. T. Michael Moseley's view so that they may be carried out at Fairchild. We should keep the events of 9/11 fresh in our minds, keeping the war "an away game;" we need to give Airmen everything needed to succeed in the combat environment, said Colonel Sharpy.

The restructured wing vision and mission were revealed in the Commander's Call. The wing vision states: Professional Expeditionary Airmen...Serving America; Teaming for Excellence. The wing mission states: Supporting America's warfighter with global reach and agile combat support.

The vision and mission is more than appropriate for Fairchild as "everything we do here impacts the warfighter," the commander noted.

Colonel Sharpy also divulged his priorities as commander:

Safety, the "foundation," is essential in everything we do, and it doesn't end when the uniform comes off.

People are the first pillar, as we have the "greatest air and space force because we have the greatest people."

The mission is the second pillar, and as a nation at war, performing the mission and being trained for combat operations ensures success in any contingency.

Family is the third pillar, as family is much more than what you find at home. Team Fairchild is a family and the Air Force is a family.

Community is the fourth pillar. As a part of the Greater Inland Northwest, the base is privy to "great recreational activities and great community relations support which is validated by the Abilene Trophy," Colonel Sharpy said.

And last, the roof, is smart operations, because we must "work smarter and not harder. We must work more efficiently because we are working too hard to be working on things that don't enhance our combat capabilities," said the commander.

Colonel Sharpy also placed a great emphasis on the recent association with the 141st Air Refueling Wing, Washington Air National Guard.

They will be coming together with us, using our aircraft to continue mission and training, he said. "This can only make two great things even better."

Other topics of the Commander's Call included responsibility and ownership - leaving things better than you found them, taking pride in what you do, and maintaining professional discipline; force development - investing in education and training; key changes to evaluations; as well as Fairchild's many contributions to the Global War on Terrorism.