VIEW FROM THE TOP >> Remember to refuel: it' a marathon

By Brig. Gen. Wayne Schatz
314th Airlift Wing commander


We started 2008 off running. Eight weeks later, we’re still running. Thank you all for the hard work and great progress made with the exercise many were involved in President’s Day weekend. Despite rain and power outages, Airmen working hard made good strides to prepare for the ORI in April.

A big thanks also goes out for the fantastic turn-out we had for the National Prayer Breakfast Tuesday morning. Chaplain (Col.) Howard Stendahl, AETC command chaplain, provided us with several inspiring take-aways and inspirational reminders.
Additionally, our new Child Development Center opened its doors officially Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony which included Sen. Blanche Lincoln. Team Little Rock’s new CDC will allow us to extend childcare services to more Air Force families, providing another 88 openings for children under age 3. This new facility is a huge step toward taking even better care of our people ... a truly worthy investment in our warfighters.

This is a very big deal for Combat Airlifters!

Speaking of worthy investments, this morning, the Air Force Assistance Fund breakfast officially kicked off the annual AFAF campaign. We ask you to give generously and give what you can to the organization(s) of your choosing; they support worthy and inspiring causes.

The base goal is 100 percent contact and at least 50 percent participation, though we hope to exceed this with your help and contributions.

Today, we welcome everyone to attend the Tuskegee Airmen Lunch at 11:30 a.m. at Hangar 1080. It’s a fantastic way to celebrate the rich history of the Air Force today and to honor those who have come before us giving us the amazing freedoms we cherish in the United States today. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first black fighter pilots for the famous 99th Fighter Squadron during World War II in the Army Air Corps, predecessor to today’s modern Air Force. They have some amazing stories to share!

That all said, several weeks ago, I mentioned that the road to the ORI would be a marathon, not a sprint. We’re nearing the halfway point now ... it’s time to take a minute and refuel. We are reaching a point in the mission where stress can start to have potentially detrimental effects, some of which is evidenced in the increasing DUIs we’ve had recently. Positive types of stress exist in our lives daily, although we tend to pay more attention to the negatives. Remember to capture the positives, too!

The causes of the stress may be “manufactured” – such as an exercise versus an actual combat environment – but the body’s reaction remains the same. What sets us apart as our nation’s warfighters is our uncanny ability to identify, manage and combat negative stress. All Airmen experience some level of stress, in both our professional and personal lives. The Air Force has long recognized this and has several programs in place that focus on helping Airmen identify, reduce, manage and treat stress.

Be familiar with the support organizations here at Team Little Rock that help us all and be willing and able to seek assistance when needed, whether it’s from our base chapel, medical, Airmen Family and Readiness Center, Services squadron activities, etc. Seek positive ways to decrease your stress; this can include working out at the gym, spending down time with family or friends, catching that basketball or hockey game, hitting one of our many Services activities offered on base, or even just playing some rock guitar or video games. Most importantly, let’s do our best to help each other keep our perspective and positive attitudes and continue to help each other out daily.

You, our Combat Airlifters and our families, remain our most valuable asset in fighting and winning the Global War on Terror. You are all on the front lines in combating stress. Take a good look around. If there are issues in your workplace that might be causing undue stress on your Airmen, find ways to resolve them at the grassroots level. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. The Air Force family is just that: a family. Let’s take good care of our family members!

We’re making great progress as we take each stride toward the ORI. When you see someone’s becoming winded, reach out to them and encourage them along. When you realize that you may be running low yourself, look to your Wingman for help and refuel yourself as well.

Lastly, I will be out of town next week with Chief McLean at the AETC Commander and Command Chief Conference. We’ll ensure we pass feedback to our leadership what a great job our Airmen are doing around the Rock.

We remain proud of the work you do and of your service to the United States Air Force! Combat Airlift!