Toughness: Key ingredient to ensure Mighty Ninety success

  • Published
  • By Col. Greg Tims
  • 90th Missile Wing commander
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, WYO. --  This is my one year anniversary as the commander of the Mighty Ninety. What an honor to command and lead the men and women of this wing. I have been doing this for 24 years and can't remember a wing that has gelled like we have.

If I may, I'd like to take a moment and give you my assessment on how we have done this past year. While we have garnered many successes, there still are a few things in which we can improve. I appreciate the downward trend in driving under the influence offenses. As you know, one DUI is too many.

We will continue to have complex and integrated exercises. Additionally, simulation during our exercises will be at an absolute minimum.

Finally, we must all continue to confront tough problems. If I could boil the profession of arms down to two concepts it would be character and toughness. Toughness is the key ingredient to ensure we never walk by a problem.

This past year we have tasted many successes. While I could fill this page with all the great things we have accomplished, let me focus on just a few. First, we have overcome seven inspections of one form or another. When you look up at the scoreboard we are 7-0. Not a bad record! Our driving record is simply impeccable - zero rollovers in more than 28.5 million miles driven in the past 455 days. This is no easy feat. Additionally, our on-duty safety record is flawless. Basically, this past year we have gone back to the basics - back to blocking and tackling. No fancy plays, just hard-nosed Airmanship. Our focus has been on providing combat capability and we have succeeded. We have accomplished the mission with passion and focus.

We understand that results are important, but we also pay attention on how we move from Point A to Point B. That is the character piece of this equation. Our ability to deliver daily excellence is the best I have ever seen in my 24 years. This leads to successful mission accomplishment each and every time. While we still have areas to improve, you can probably tell I am very pleased by the hard work and dedication of the members of this wing.

Last week, we finished up Global Thunder 2010. Our portion was a little trickier than some of the other bases; we got to deal with a few issues on our training launch control center. I heard nothing but great comments from the many observers who came to watch. As stated above, we are really working on minimizing our simulation when it comes to exercising. I think we did a superb job integrating security forces and emergency response forces, thus ensuring the exercise maintained a realistic feel. In doing so, this only sharpens our sword. I know the members of the Mighty Ninety are committed to taking our exercise schedule to the next level, and it showed. I thank all those who participated and applaud you for a job well done.

I need to take a moment and brag a little on Senior Airman Joe Kerber, 90th Security Forces Squadron. Every time I come through the gate, he looks sharp and his professionalism is off the charts. He can rattle off the mission and vision statements with perfection. Well done Joe; you represent your unit and our base in a superb manner.
As you read this, we will be completing our change of command for 20th Air Force. We wish Maj. Gen. and Mrs. Roger Burg the best as they proceed down the next journey of their lives. We now welcome Maj. Gen. and Mrs. Donald Alston, the incoming 20th AF commander. Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz, Air Force Global Strike Command commander, will be the presiding official for the ceremony. While the timing of the ceremony and the printing of this paper do not quite sync up, we will highlight this significant event in next week's paper. However, please be sure to take a moment when you see General Alston and his family and welcome them to F.E. Warren.

What an honor to have Gen. and Mrs. Norton Schwartz', Air Force Chief of Staff, back on our base, as well as many other distinguished general officers attending the ceremony.
We are expecting 57 stars total. Many, who have already arrived, made a point to pull me aside to not only comment on how good the base looked, but on how impressed they were with the professionalism of the members of the base. Well done Mighty Ninety.
While the events that we undertake do change, one thing does not - our men and women prepare and execute every challenge with a drive and passion that delivers perfection each and every time.

Go Forth and Conquer!