VIEW FROM THE TOP >> Last chance to scrimmage, then Championship!

By Brig. Gen. Rowayne A. Schatz
314th Airlift Wing commander


Here it is – ROCKEX, the last chance to get down with a good scrimmage just one more time and practice what we do best before Air Mobility Command and Air Education and Training Command come to inspect our level of mission readiness and response in April.

However, don’t think of it as just a scrimmage. It’s time to be real, to get the last of the kinks out of the system and to get it … and get it right. Over the next few days next week, we will be checking your game and seeing if you’re ready for our Championship game: the ORI. There will be long hours, stress and lots of going through our playbooks and checklists, but it’s worth all of the effort to finish, and to finish well and with honor, knowing you practiced hard, got down and dirty, and played your best.

That being said, remember and follow a few things these next few weeks as we head toward the goal line and the ORI:

1. Stay focused on the mission. Don’t let the fact that this is an exercise keep you from doing your jobs to the fullest and playing it as if it were real. Sometimes it is easier to simulate situations in exercises, but when it comes down to the real-world situation, there is no simulation, no second chances, no time put back on the clock nor any extra innings.

2. Remember to help others. With our Air Force resources and people reduced in numbers, now is not the time to let your Wingman suffer. If you see someone struggling, figure out a way to fix the problem, or find someone who can fix it.

3. Take the time to do it right; build it to last. You’ve all heard the saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” You’ve heard of the Egyptian pyramids and Machu Picchu – “The Lost City of the Incas” in Chile, South America – among other ancient marvels that still exist hundreds of years later. The engineering still evidenced in many parts of the world showcase exactly what our predecessors in from many cultures and regions did correctly – they took the time to build it to last. While it shouldn’t take you decades to finish preparing a flight plan, or going through that checklist to do it in compliance with safety and regulations, or check that extra detail that could cost you points, it should be done with care and a sense of pride and ownership. Treat it as if it was yours, because it is. Treat it as if you were the coach wanting your team to win … and win without a doubt! When we play the real game, we need to play it to win…and win decisively.

4. You are the best asset the Air Force has. Take care of yourself – remember to eat, get some sleep and take the time to unwind every night, whether that includes reading a book, watching your favorite sitcom on TV or playing a game with your children, spouse or friends. If you’re not in top shape and mentally sharp, you’re not going to be able to do your best, and you’ll make mistakes. Strategically, we need to be ready for anything the “other team” throws at us and come back with innovative responses reflecting the way we play to be on this All-Star team: Team Little Rock! Let’s all shoot for MVP across “The Rock” among all our units and players; MVPs know the value of balance, making each shot count, and not making mistakes. If you do happen to make a mistake along the way, learn from it and recover, and when it comes to game time, hit it, hit it hard and make every shot count.

We know you all are working hard here every day and are feeling the strain of hard practices coupled with real-world plays. You all have what it takes to stay focused in the coming weeks. It is that focus which will help us score big on our version of the Championship game…our ORI. Go, Team Little Rock! Shoot for Outstanding! Combat Airlift!