Family Ties Family Ties - Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass

EDITORIAL | Maintenance pride focuses on missionPATRIOT | PAGE 3When asked toprovide the editorialthis month, I choseto break the articleinto two parts. Thefirst lays the groundwork for a new aircraftmaintenanceinitiative, and thesecond contains myColonel Varela personal thoughtsas I leave Westoverfor a new assignment.“True North” is a new Air Force ReserveCommand initiative led by Col T. GlennDavis, AFRC’s new Director of Logistics.As we experience an unprecedented era ofchange in our command, USAF, and our nation,“True North” is designed to focus ourmaintenance managers on our top priority;flying and fixing aircraft safely.“True North” resulted from recentAFRC workshops where participantsrecommended maintainer actions such as:STOP doing immediately things that needlessly/recklesslydiminish mission capability,START doing immediately those concepts/practices which bring rapid increases tomission capability, and CONTINUE whatwe are already wisely accomplishing and/orBRIEFS |Retirees seminarA free retirement benefits seminarfor Reserve and Guard retireesand their spouses is set for March7 at Groton Naval SubmarineBase in Groton, Conn.The seminar will be from 8 a.m.to 4 p.m. in Lewis Hall (Bldg. 474).Presenters will include those fromVeterans Affairs, Department ofLabor, TRICARE, and variousmilitary transition organizations.To sign up for the seminar, callPetty Officer Third Class ShanaMichaud at (860) 694-6565, Ext.110 or e-mail, shana.michaud@navy.milBase web siteAir Force and Westover newsis available by clicking on www.westover.afrc.af.mil. Turn topage 11 for more information.identify those things that should be benchmarked.These transformational conceptsare being communicated through dailyaircraft status meetings. The meetings arechaired by Colonel Davis and it focuses onfundamental principles found in AFI 21-101,AFI 21-103 and T.O. 00-20-1.The results are greater accountabilityand involvement by leadership at all levelsof maintenance management regardingaircraft scheduling and mission capabilitymanagement. At Westover, our missioncapability (MC) rate has jumped from amonthly average of 40 percent to a dailyrate consistently above 60 percent in just thepast two weeks. Additionally, AFRC hasset new MC rate standards for all aircraftin its inventory.It is now 75 percent, which mimics theactive duty standard. Our maintenanceAirmen work hard and do remarkable work,and my hat is off to them. We are not “trying”to make them work harder but moreefficiently.As I reflect on my time here at Westover,humility resounds within me. When I firstarrived and viewed the C-5 up-close, theenormity of aircraft and the task at handhumbled me. When I took the guidon fromBrig. Gen. (Wade) Farris and addressed theCommander’s Call in Base HangarCommander’s Call is scheduled in the Base Hangar at 10:30 a.m.March 8. This is a mandatory formation for all wing reservists.ALCE, 58th changes of commandLeadership will change hands in the 439th Airlift Control Flightand the 58th Aerial Port Squadron March 7.Lt. Col. Patrick King will take command of the ALCF from Col.Christopher Kreig at 9 a.m. in the 439th Aeromedical Staging Squadronbriefing room (Bldg. 1310 on Hangar Avenue).Lt. Col. Richard Bellshot will take over 58th command from Lt. Col.Richard Cockley at 2 p.m. in the Westover Conference Center.Temporary credit union to openA temporary Pioneer Valley Federal Credit Union branch willopen March 7 in the finance office (Bldg. 1800) conference room.This temporary branch will operate until construction of the newbranch is complete later this spring.The new branch will be in Bldg. 1520 (the former security forcessquadron headquarters on Patriot Avenue). Hours for the temporarybranch will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, andFriday, and Saturdays of the A UTAs. For more information, callDan McCarthy at Ext. 2883.700 aircraft maintenance airmen that makeup our group, I was humbled.When the ORI kicked off two weekslater and we launched 11 of 11 jets, I wasproud. When our group tackled the C-5Btransfers, AMP conversion, continuousGWOT missions, Regional ISO, MSEPs,UCIs and thousands of other requirementsit takes to operate a group this size, I wasprouder still. I’m not the one who turns thewrenches, tows the aircraft, climbs on theT-tail, moves the AGE, files all the paperwork,etc., but I am so proud of the menand women who do these jobs. They servethis group, this wing and our great countrybecause they are dedicated professionals.They typify what the great football coachVince Lombardi said:“If you’ll not settle for anything less thanyour best, you will be amazed at what youcan accomplish in your lives.”I am proud to say “I was the 439thMaintenance Group Commander, and Icommanded the best of the best”.Keep ‘em flyin’. God speed.Col. Oreste Varela439 th Maintenance GroupcommanderDebt seminarA credit and debt consolidationseminar is scheduled March7 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. inthe civilian personnel conferenceroom in wing headquarters(Bldg. 1850).This seminar is open to allreservists and their family members.Lunch will be included. TheAirmen and Family ReadinessCenter and Pioneer Valley FederalCredit Union staffs arecoordinating this seminar.Those interested in attendingthis seminar should call Tech.Sgt. Margaret Sullivan at theAirman and Family ReadinessCenter. She may be reached atExt. 3024, or e-mail SergeantSullivan at margaret.sullivan@westover.af.mil.