TOP STORY >>Commander to Airmen: You’re the best!

By SENIOR AIRMAN TIM BAZAR
314th Airlift Wing Strategic Information Flight

The 314th Airlift Wing commander held three commander’s calls Dec. 15 to update the enlisted force on the upcoming challenges of Little Rock Air Force Base and the changes Airmen will see in coming years. During the commander’s calls, Brig. Gen. Kip Self spoke on several subjects and stressed how proud he was of the Airmen here and the sacrifices they make every day. “All of you make the difference each and every day in this country,” said General Self. “Our nation depends on you as a formidable force to protect the very freedoms we all enjoy.”

The mission

The commander also took time to ensure Airmen knew what they were working for and the mission of the base. After asking, “Does anyone know the mission of the base?” one Airman stood to reveal that Little Rock Air Force Base’s mission is to graduate world-class aircrews while deploying fit-to-fight Airmen in support of the Global War on Terrorism. “C-130s pull more than 400 convoys off the roads each week,” General Self said, “and where do you think most of those C-130s come from? Right here at Little Rock.”

Deployment roles

On that note, General Self stressed the importance of the deployment role and how the upcoming AEF cycle 5/6 deployments would affect the base. “We have hundreds of people deploying early next year with AEF 5/6,” said General Self. “We have to ensure that we think and work smart because the manpower numbers will drop over the next months as people deploy.”
The 314th Airlift Wing commander held three commander’s calls Dec. 15 to update the enlisted force on the upcoming challenges of Little Rock Air Force Base and the changes Airmen will see in coming years.

During the commander’s calls, Brig. Gen. Kip Self spoke on several subjects and stressed how proud he was of the Airmen here and the sacrifices they make every day. “All of you make the difference each and every day in this country,” said General Self. “Our nation depends on you as a formidable force to protect the very freedoms we all enjoy.”

DUIs

General Self expressed his wish that every Airman use their head when out partying during the holiday season, as each Airman is needed to fulfill their part of the mission. “The deployment will stretch our already thin numbers even lower,” he said, “and we’ll need each and every one of you here to cover the workload. We expect more out of Airmen than ever before and you can’t help us complete the mission if you’re hurt, injured or killed in an accident.”

On a lighter note, the general informed Airmen that although DUIs remain a concern Air Force wide, last year's numbers at Little Rock Air Force Base were the lowest in eight years. “I’m very proud to say that we’re lower this year than we have been on DUIs,” General Self said. “And I’d like to continue to see the trend stay that way. Nothing good happens between midnight and 6 a.m.”

BRAC

As numbers of Airmen drop across the Air Force, Base Realignment and Closure measures will eventually help the base grow and expand. “BRAC will help the base and community grow as we add two new AMC flying squadrons and 300-400 Airmen,” he said. “More than $47 million in BRAC projects will improve the base across the board.”

Continued growth

Even though BRAC will help the base grow significantly, expansion isn’t new here, said General Self. The base continues to grow by leaps and bounds. Although many Airmen reside in the dormitories, he touched on a major perk of being an Airman at Little Rock AFB — new housing.

“Forty-three new houses will come online in March,” said General Self, “and usher in a new era at Little Rock Air Force Base.”

Wingmen forever

Finally, General Self spoke on the importance of working together to achieve goals — both professional and personal.
“Your wingman is a great person to go to for support in everything you do,” said the commander. “Watching out for each other and caring for each other the way we do is special. It’s what makes being an Airman special.”