COMMENTARY>>We are ‘Team Little Rock’

By Lt. Col. Philip Everitte
714th Training Squadron

As our base embarks on the biggest transition in the past decade, we must work to remember that it takes Team Little Rock, working together to accomplish Combat Airlift at its best. When we witness the unveiling of the 19th Airlift Wing flag, Air Mobility Command will become the host wing and the 314th Airlift Wing will become a tenant. Admittedly, not much will change for most of us. Sure, there will be many who change patches and chains of command, but for the most part the missions and roles of every Airman and every unit will remain focused on Combat Airlift.

We will still deliver unmatched C-130 E/H/J combat airlift, unparalleled combat support and unequaled combat warriors to combatant commanders around the globe. We will still produce some 1,700 C-130 aircrew each year in support of the training requirements of nearly every Air Force major command, sister services and 31 partner nations. We will still build weapons school graduates and the next generation of C-130 maintainers, while providing outstanding Joint Readiness training. And yes, we will continue to raise our hands and work as a team to support our nation and her people when called, just as we did during relief efforts leading up to and following landfall of hurricanes Gustav and Ike. We will continue to do all of this and more.

Our patches may say Air Mobility Command, Air Education and Training Command, Air Combat Command or Air National Guard, but no matter the emblem or acronym, we are all Team Little Rock. Such a great team and résumé of success compels our leaders to cheer that Team Little Rock is “Combat Airlift.” In fact, leaders all over the globe call Team Little Rock in times of need and crisis. I’m certain that once Team Little Rock is headed their way, they’ll cheer “Combat Airlift” as well.