COMMENTARY>>We’re in it to win it!

By Col. Greg Otey
19th Airlift Wing commander

By now, we’re all aware that “the Rock” is one of Air Mobility Command’s top contenders for the Commander-in-Chief’s Installation Excellence Award. Sunday, we will welcome the IEA review board. This five-member team will spend two days with us, seeing first-hand all the ways Team Little Rock truly excels.

In July, we were named the C-130 world’s best of the best at the AMC Rodeo. Now it’s time to take it to the next level and show our base is also the best AMC has to offer.

The review board will take a close look at 26 different areas across the base and this is our time to shine!

Each of us can be proud of how we contribute to installation excellence.

From the pride we take in maintaining base housing to the cohesiveness of our units, we have what it takes to be the best. Our energy conservation programs and initiatives are unrivaled. “The Rock’s” customer service support personnel are heads and shoulders above anyone else. We are an amazingly productive workforce and one that places quality of life as priority No. 1.

I knew when I took command of this installation in January that I would be leading the best the Air Force has to offer. So far, you have proven me right, and I have no doubt you’ll show the IEA team the same with the pride, dedication and motivation you display each and every day here in everything you do.

This award isn’t about whose base is the newest or whose buildings are the prettiest. This award is about who does the best they can with what they have to make their base better in some way every day.

We’ve all heard you should always strive to leave someplace better than you found it. We take that to a new level and make our base better every day. It’s not by chance we were chosen as a contender in this competition – it’s because of you. I’m proud to have each of you on board as we slam-dunk this round of inspections and press on to compete at the Air Force level!

It’s time to show the rest of the Air Force what we’re all about. Combat Airlift!