By Capt. Joe Knable
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
(Editor’s note: This is the second article in a series about the upcoming visit by five colonels from Air Mobility Command headquarters who will visit AMC’s three finalists for the Commander in Chief’s Installation Excellence Award. The colonels are scheduled to visit Little Rock Air Force Base Oct. 5)
Out of 13 Air Mobility Command bases, all of whom are doing excellent work providing world-class, life-saving combat airlift and air refueling, Little Rock is in the top three, and is also in the running for best base in the Air Force.
A selection board will visit the three AMC finalists — Charleston AFB, S.C. Dover AFB, Del. and Little Rock AFB, Ark. — in early October. “This allows the three finalists an opportunity to showcase their innovations, improvements and teamwork, distinguishing one of them as the clear AMC winner ... Congratulations to all, and may the best installation win!” wrote Gen.
Arthur Lichte, Air Mobility Command commander, in an e-mail.
This is an honor for Team Little Rock, because every one of the 13 bases had an impressive nomination package and choosing just three of them is difficult work, said Col. Kirk Lear, 314th Airlift Wing vice commander, who was on the AMC review board last year that visited Fairchild, Charleston and Travis Air Force Bases.
“Little Rock is first out of the chute,” said Colonel Lear. Being first is a challenge because it gives the base a few days less to prepare, but the base also gets the chance to make the first impression on the inspection team. “The colonels (on the inspection team) know the bases have to go into afterburner to get ready for this,” he said.
There are several things the base must do to prepare, said Colonel Lear. First of all, “everyone (on base) ought to know this is coming ... Leaders at every level need to take the time to sit down with their people so they know what this is about and why the team is here.”
Secondly, members of Team Little Rock should show they are proud of their base and proud of their job. Everyone should make sure their work area looks good. They should welcome the team and highlight key processes and people, said Colonel Lear.
“Show (the team) what you’ve got; talk to (them) about what you do, why you’re proud of it, and how it affects the bigger picture,” said Colonel Lear. The team does not come with a lot of specific questions or an agenda. All they have for background is the nomination package they received from Little Rock AFB. The base sets the agenda for the visit and the team is there to see what Team Little Rock wants to show them.
According to Colonel Lear, it’s not the base with the most impressive physical plant that wins; it’s the base that’s doing the best with the resources they have to improve the quality of life of their airmen, save money, protect the environment, and accomplish the other focus areas as outlined in the Air Force instruction.
“Different bases, for a variety of reasons, have had more construction money or beautification money sunk into them. It just happens,” said Colonel Lear. “It’s a matter of doing well with what you have and selling that story.”
One memorable encounter Colonel Lear recalled from last year’s visits was with Travis Air Force Base’s fire department.
Officials there explained that when a wildfire started consuming old, abandoned houses on base and threatened to destroy their new homes and other buildings, the base fire department joined together with the community to contain the fire. Thanks to the teamwork, not a single new structure was lost, and there was no significant damage to the base. Travis earned AMC’s nomination.
“That pride and that enthusiasm, that’s what I remember,” said Colonel Lear. Team Little Rock’s attitude should be, “We’re jumping in to show you guys why we’re deserving of this award because our base, our people, our ability to use what we have rocks.”
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