Page 2 Commentary<strong>Wright</strong> <strong>Flyer</strong> s <strong>June</strong> 2006 <strong>Wright</strong> <strong>Flyer</strong> s <strong>June</strong> 2006 CommentaryPage 3<strong>Wright</strong> <strong>Flyer</strong>This funded <strong>Air</strong> Force Reservenewspaper is an authorizedpublication formembers of the U.S. militaryservices. Content of The<strong>Wright</strong> <strong>Flyer</strong> is not necessarilythe offi cial view of, orendorsed by, the U.S. Government,the Department ofDefense, or the Departmentof the <strong>Air</strong> Force. The contentis collected, written,and edited by the PublicAffairs Offi ce of the <strong>916th</strong><strong>Air</strong> <strong>Refueling</strong> <strong>Wing</strong>,Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.All photographs are of U.S.<strong>Air</strong> Force origin unless otherwiseindicated. For informationcall 919-722-2216.CommanderCol. Paul J. SykesPublic AffairsOfficerCapt. Shannon MannPA Assistant &EditorMs. Donna LeaNCOICStaff Sgt. Scott MathewsStaff WritersSenior <strong>Air</strong>man Randy LeMayFront photoPhoto by Donna LeaMaster Sgt. Jennifer Wardand Senior Master Sgt. BillMcKinley unveil the “City ofGoldsboro” KC-135R duringthe Wayne County Chamber ofCommerce After Hours Eventheld on April 20. Watchingwere members of the chamberand Col. J.P. Hall. SergeantsWard and McKinley are membersof the <strong>916th</strong> <strong>Air</strong>craftMaintenance Squadron.Job well done during recent exerciseby Col. Mark Kolleda<strong>916th</strong> OG CommanderI want to extend mypersonal thanks for ajob well done during the916 th ’s recent exercisedeployment to Alpena,Mich. in early April.The deployment wasextremely critical toprepare for the wing’sOperational ReadinessInspection scheduled forthe first week of August.Approximately 250wing personnel deployedin April along with roughly550 Westover <strong>Air</strong> ReserveBase personnel.by MSgt. Linda Welz4th AF Public AffairsMARCH ARB – Vice commandersfrom 11 Reservewings arrived here April 132006, to participate in a 4 th<strong>Air</strong> Force vice commander’ssymposium.The gathering, hosted byFourth <strong>Air</strong> Force CommanderMaj. Gen. Robert E. Duignanand Vice Commander Col.Keith D. Kries, was designedto improve vice commandereffectiveness through networkingand the sharing ofbest practices. The two-dayevent covered everythingfrom senior officer and enlistedcorps issues to deploy-Together, we practicedour ability to maintainand sustain wartimeoperations while survivingin a chemical andbiological environment.That’s right! Twohundred and fifty of the916 th ’s finest fine-tunedcritical wartime skillsfor almost a week. It wasan absolutely awesomedemonstration of ourwartime capabilities.However, whatimpressed me more thana job well done was thecontinual positive attitudewhich was deeply instilledwithin our 916 th family.For a week we werephysically challengedby 12 hour shifts whilewearing full “battle rattle”body armor.Wartime scenarioswere constantly inducedinto our war fighting “opstempo.”It was a MUST tocorrectly analyze eachscenario and take effectiveaction without missing aments and future challenges“General Duignan wantedthe vice commanders to gettogether to increase theirawareness and give them abroader perspective of what’sgoing on at 4 th <strong>Air</strong> Force,”said Col. Kries. “There arelots of changes to the missionwith Base Realignmentand Closures, the QuadrennialDefense Review andweapon-system conversions.”The face-to-face interactionwith the general wassomething Col. Steve Goeman,vice commander, 459 th<strong>Air</strong> <strong>Refueling</strong> <strong>Wing</strong>, AndrewsAFB, Md., said he would sharewith his wing personnel.beat of that ops tempo.What an awesome sight!At the end of themission, all I saw weretired smiles and a lot ofpatting each other on theback because we knewwe did it again. Each916 th member made thedifference, and, with thestyle that only the 916 th“can do” so well.As we continue toprepare for the ORI,please remember SAFETYFIRST.Please also rememberto maintain a regimentalphysical fitness programso we are ready and able tofight in full “battle rattle”at the same time we’re infull chemical ensembles.Expect hot days and warmnights in early August andremember that adequate hydrationstarts at least a weekbefore the game.I am absolutely proudand privileged to fight nextto each and every 916 thwarrior.See you there!<strong>Wing</strong> vice commanders network at MarchSee Vice on Page 3From my perspective let me tell you what I seeYour role in building a strong public affairs programby Capt. Shannon MannChief, Public AffairsSome days I hate my job.Some days I go home physically exhaustedfrom the mental challengesof the day. Some days I go home ravinglike a lunatic over what I considerthe latest ‘injustice.’I cannot imagine that I’m that differentfrom most of you or from anyworking American for that matter.We all have our days.But every time it gets particularlyrough in the PA shop I am alwaysreminded of why I’m here. Let me tellyou what I see.I see people like Rowdy Smithand Barry Bradley who beam withpride over the job they do andshare that infectious excitementabout the KC-135 on every civicleader flight we do.I see people like Jennifer Ward andAndy Turner who volunteer to help inour schools and be good role modelswhile proudly wearing their uniforms.I see people like Jill Weisflog and SeanMartin who meet business leaderswith a warm smile and an eagernessto share what the 916 th has to offer.I see people like John Payne andScotty Sweat who want to tell thestory of their units and people andVicecontinued from page 2“General Duignan discussedbudget updates,force shaping and plannedreduction. He told us wewere all doing a good job.It’s nice to hear that fromhim and it’s something I’llpass along to our folks, Col.Goeman said.“There’s no syllabus thatteaches you how to be a goodvice commanders. We wantto be involved across theboard with our folks. Wewant to be an extension ofour commander, doing realwork,” he said.Being an extension of thecommander includes being visibleto the enlisted force and providing professionaldevelopment within their wings,according to CMSgt. Kenneth Mitchell, 4 thAF command chief.“These senior leaders are commendable.They are very concerned about theirenlisted forces. I encouraged them to usetheir senior noncommissioned officersmore in leadership roles. The smaller theforce gets, the more they have to rely onthe Senior NCO forces. They also needto maintain a good relationship betweenthemselves and their command chiefs andfirst sergeants,” said CMSgt. Mitchell.consistently make it happen. I seepeople like Starr Johnson-Derr andJamie Gardner who share their vocaltalents with the community whilepromoting our unit. I see people likeRon Schooley and Donna Lea, whowith years of civilian service, neverstop trying to give their absolutebest for the rest of us. I see peoplelike Nealy Brown and Rob Eppersonwho have great attitudes and actuallymake going to the ORI not so bad(I cannot write fun, but I’m definitelyglad I’m there with them).I see the hard work, pride anddedication to getting the job done rightand setting the example by people likeWendy Gresis, Greg Nelson, Butch Bailey,Eric Jorgensen and Ben Lopedote.From my vantage point I see a lot.Of course this is not all I see, butspace is limited. When members of the916 th put their minds to doing somethingthey make this wing stand out.Here’s what your efforts have accomplishedin just a year’s time:• The 916 th has the most activeorientation flight program in <strong>Air</strong> ForceReserve Command. We educate morecivic leaders, clergy, legislators, mediaand ROTC cadets than any other wingin the command.• We were the first military organizationto hold the Wayne CountyThese relationships can be betterdeveloped if the vice commander is “ahigh-energy person and a self starter”,said Col. Brian Dominguez, 445 th <strong>Air</strong>lift<strong>Wing</strong> vice commander, <strong>Wright</strong>-PattersonAFB, Ohio. “Otherwise you findyourself being irrelevant.”General Duignan’s expectationsfor these vice commanders are to beexcellent wingmen in support of theirwing commanders, to enhance theirunit’s war-fighting capabilities and topromote ground and flight safety, Col.Kries said.“The plan is to do another symposiumin the near future in Washington,D.C. to increase the vice commanders’awareness, and interface with seniorChamber After Hours event. It wasthe largest after hours party thechamber has ever had, increasingthe numbers in attendance by morethan 200 percent.• In May 2005, the 916 th earnedthe Top Money Raised by a MilitaryUnit Award for your efforts in theWayne County American CancerSociety Relay for Life.• We started a mentoring andtutoring program with local schools.• We’ve quadrupled our mediaattention by regularly appearing onlocal cable access television and radioprogramming; and getting hometownnews releases and features placed inlocal and regional newspapers.Not bad for a Reserve unit. As ateam we can do so much!The military unit has alwaysbeen dubbed as family. The 916 th isdefinitely my family. Some days Imay get upset with my parents andsiblings, but I’m always glad to knowthey are there for me when I needthem. Your energy, dedication andprofessionalism make my job easier.Your pride in your job and this wingreminds me that I have the best jobin the world…promoting you!Thank you for your continued supportof the 916 th Public Affairs Office.leaders at the command level and toimprove their understanding of thechallenges we face,” Col. Kries said.Photo courtesy of 4th <strong>Air</strong> ForceFront row, second from left, Col. Phil Fallinjoins other vice commanders from the 4th<strong>Air</strong> Force for a two-day symposium.