TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. —
(Editor’s be aware: That is the primary in a sequence of commentaries laying out the priorities of the 72nd Air Base Wing Commander.)
“…Are we as prepared as we could possibly be?”
It is a portion of a query posed by Secretary of the Air Pressure, Frank Kendall, in a memo to the power final fall titled, One Group One Struggle. The total query learn “If requested to go to warfare right now in opposition to a peer competitor, are we as prepared as we could possibly be?”
This query has been on my thoughts because the second I learn it. We’re in a world of nice energy competitors, with multi theater warfare and international deterrence. Being prepared for competitors means coaching to win.
So, Wildcatters, are we as prepared as we could possibly be?
Because the commander of the 72nd Air Base Wing, I might say the reply to our query is, we’re prepared…the Wildcatters are a prepared power, however implementing new coaching methods will guarantee we’re extra prepared tomorrow than we’re right now.
This query was a driving power behind our 72nd ABW Precedence 4: Posture to Win. This entails readiness, deliberate coaching, and additional establishing a tradition constructed on Mission Command and Warrior Ethos. This 12 months of Competitors is devoted to coaching to win – to mentally and bodily put together ourselves and our teammates for competitors in opposition to a peer competitor, ought to the necessity come up.
Lots of the Air Pressure transitioned to the Air Pressure Pressure Technology mannequin. AFFORGEN is how the Air Pressure presents our forces to the combatant instructions to quantify capability, danger, and readiness. Our army members will likely be assigned to a six-month section and can proceed by way of the 24-month cycle: Put together Section, Certify Section, Obtainable to deploy Section, and Reset Section.
The Wildcatters modified how we practice for competitors throughout the assemble of the AFFORGEN mannequin. Our month-to-month Wildcatter Readiness Coaching Days will give attention to particular ‘Prepared Airman Coaching’ duties and guarantee every of you’ll have sufficient reps and units to be prepared for competitors. This modification establishes a extra structured and predictable cycle to higher put together our Airmen for distributed, high-end fight operations by permitting centered time for particular person and unit coaching and certification. Subsequently, when an Airman is licensed ‘prepared’, that Airman is actually accessible to deploy at any level of their six-month availability section.
This yr we may even give attention to Multi-Succesful Airman coaching and instilling a warrior ethos mindset. Superior coaching for particular profession specialties will put together our Wildcatters for AFFORGEN deployments in help of Agile Fight Employment operations. Smaller, extra agile, succesful forces – lethality at its core.
Warrior Ethos is the embodiment of the warrior spirit: robust mindedness, tireless motivation, an unceasing vigilance, a willingness to sacrifice one’s life for the nation, if vital, and a dedication to be the world’s premier Air, Area and Our on-line world power. A Warrior Ethos mindset is vital to vary and foundational to our Air Pressure tradition. We train it, we be taught it, we stay it, however staying immersed in it’s vital.
Our 12 months of Competitors may even give attention to the drive to Mission Command Tradition. It is a philosophy of management that empowers Airmen to function in unsure, advanced, and quickly altering environments by way of belief, shared consciousness, and understanding of commander’s intent.
As outlined in Air Pressure Doctrine Publication 1-1, Mission Command describes command and management constructed on centralized command, distributed operation, and decentralized execution by trusted, competent, and correctly resourced commanders. The Mission Command tradition is crucial with a view to higher put together you for competitors.
To consider what’s forward of you on this 12 months of Competitors could be very thrilling. Consider the chances for every of you as an Airman, each for you professionally but in addition in your teammates.
The 12 months of Competitors will make every of you higher, extra agile, faster pondering warriors. It’s a mindset change. It’s important we’re as prepared as we will be.
As all the time, it’s a privilege to serve alongside you as we get after this 12 months of Competitors collectively. I’m humbled and proud to function your commander and your teammate.
