Mission: Not impossible

  • Published
  • By Col. Thomas Sharpy
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Commander
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  People. Mission. Family. Community. It feels like just yesterday that I stood before you and conveyed my priorities as the new 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander.

I recently used this forum to speak on the first priority: People. Now, I would like to share with you the next wing priority: Mission.

In the deployed environment the mission is paramount. According to military statistics, our Coalition forces launched 1,140 airstrikes in the first nine months of this year compared with 229 in all of last year. This shows that America's Air Force is heavily engaged.

Whether overseas or in garrison, you are a major contributor to our service's mission and a reason why we have the capability to engage so heavily. That's awesome.

Here, our wing's mission is broken down into three components: To Support America's War Fighter and provide Global Reach and Agile Combat Support.

All three components depend on each other through various support functions from you - the men and women of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing. In short, it is you who make our demanding mission possible.

Every member of our wing plays an important part in fighting and winning the Global War on Terrorism. Every member contributes to the mission, every member has a role to play and every member is as important as the next... combat starts here!

Here at Fairchild our duty is to fly and support the air refueling mission and prepare Professional Expeditionary Airmen to deploy to lands across the globe. Team, as we continue the 92nd Air Refueling Wing mission, we cannot afford to relax our high standards and flawless performance posture. We must also continue to remain safe as we engage in our mission.

Since taking command, I am continuously in awe by the phenomenal talents demonstrated by our Airmen who accomplish the mission. The wing faced significant hurdles months after I was handed the flag of command - from inspections to wing exercises, but nothing hindered you from getting the mission done safely. You are carrying on the Fairchild tradition of professionalism and pride as you complete your daily duties; in doing so, you have confirmed what I already knew. For that I salute you. Thank you for what you do for our great wing and our great nation.

People. Mission. Family. Community. Fairchild's way forward to "Support America's War Fighter with Global Reach and Agile Combat Support."