A View From The Top>>The 189th Airlift Wing: part of the total force

By Col. Jim Summers
189th Airlift Wing commander

Teamwork is in our blood here at The Rock. It’s at the heart of what we do every day to make all of the base’s missions successful. Whether we’re flying training lines or preparing to deploy, it takes a total force, everyone pulling together – Guard, Reserve, and active duty to be truly successful. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention our civilian and contractor partners here on base, especially Lockheed Martin for the incredible job they do.

If you are new to the base, you may be wondering what it is the Guard actually does. I’ll bet you didn’t know that some of us are embedded into your individual organizations. From the 62nd Airlift Squadron to the Chief’s Group, we’re there with you – side by side. Engaged. Relevant. Ready.

We have a lot to offer, such as experience, leadership and ability, which explains why so many of our Airmen are in high demand these days. We’re successful because many of our traditional Guardsmen are instructors and are willing to do additional workdays when needed to train students. Of course, our primary concern is ensuring our instructor school candidates complete their coursework and flying events in a timely manner. But through creative flight scheduling, we’re able to lend a hand when needed. Why? Because it’s the right thing to do.

We may wear a different patch, but we’re on the same team. Ultimately, we work for the same chain of command: 19th Air Force, Air Education and Training Command and the chief of staff of the Air Force.

Our uniqueness is we have another chain of command that runs through the Arkansas adjutant general, the governor and the director of the Air National Guard.

There are many challenges facing the one remaining active-duty AETC C-130 training squadron. While they continue to train C-130 initial and mission-qualification students, the 62 AS has been hampered by weather, old C-130Es and a shortage of C-130 instructors, all of which are out of the squadron’s control. There’s no doubt in any ones mind that they’re doing the best they can with what they have.

But without the Arkansas Air National Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing, Team Little Rock’s C-130 school house would be even farther behind. The first time we partnered with the 314 AW and Lockheed Martin to train additional students was four years ago, when we helped break the log jam of initial- and mission-qualification loadmaster students. This time, we’re partnering on all crew positions. How will we get through it? The same way we always have. Everyone on this base, military and civilian, will roll up their sleeves and get to work to ensure students graduate on time.

Failure is not an option. The units tasked with deployments deserve the best Combat Airlifter that we can give them, and they deserve them in a timely manner. Teamwork will get us there, and the 189 AW has shown over the years that it is ready to do its part to accomplish our total force mission. In fact, if you can’t tell by looking whether an individual is in the Guard or the Active Duty, then we must be doing something right!

Combat Airlift!