Commander discusses freedom of action, Unit Climate Assessment

  • Published
  • By Col. Chris Funk
  • 482nd Fighter Wing commander
Homestead Air Resrve Base, Fla. --  We've kept the skies above Homestead busy in preparation for the December Unit Training Assembly. In fact, eight F-16s recently deployed to Naval Air Station Fallon in Nevada for a live fire exercise. Thanks to the 482nd Maintenance and Logistics Squadrons support, 87,000 pounds of cargo and 150 personnel were ready for this exercise.

I hope that everyone had a good Thanksgiving holiday. Spending time with friends and family is a blessing that I will always cherish. Many of you have spent the holidays separated from friends and family - I've been down that road too and understand the pain of missing loved ones. The Troop Feeding Facility was open on Thanksgiving and I encourage you to bring your families out next time so you don't have to wash dishes!

In December's UTA, I hosted my first commander's call. The theme of this call was about you, and how we can take better care of each other and the base. Whether it's keeping safety in mind over the holiday season or your voice being heard during the Unit Climate Assessment, make sure we're taking care of each other. We also presented a Defense Meritorious Service Medal to Master Sgt. Craig Campbell from the 482nd Security Forces Squadron and congratulated 38 new promotes.

Additionally, I spoke about putting others first, and being part of a team. I've only been here for about four months and I'm impressed with the freedom of action the Wing enjoys, which is a direct result of the credibility the 482nd has established. You have established credibility through your personal integrity, professional competence and relationships here and at other units. Over the decades, the 482nd Fighter Wing has established a tremendous amount of credibility. I encourage those of you who are deploying to show the theater how it's done.

Looking ahead to January, we will have a 482nd FW Unit Climate Assessment (UCA). This will be your opportunity to tell me how you're doing here. Your honest feedback is important to me and will be anonymous.

The New Year will bring in many events for the base. We're looking forward to officially opening the newly renovated fitness center, and construction is continuing to progress on the AAFES Express. You might have also seen some of the road closures and digging around the base. That's part of a $1.7 million fiber optic cable expansion project.

While we will close out 2013 deploying in support of wartime operations, our government continues to see increasing times of change. Congress has established a National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force to study our military structure and available resources. Your Air Force Reserve Command leadership was highly instrumental in vocalizing the importance of taking care of our Airmen when proposing structural changes. Whatever decisions might come from this study, your leadership both here and at AFRC will remain mission-oriented while taking care of our Airmen. Be patient as we head into an uncertain future with respect to the budget. The Continuing Resolution ends mid-January, and we're staring an AEF in the face at the same time.

In closing, I thank you for your continued service and wish you the best over the holidays. I encourage you all to take time to spend with your friends and family. It is truly precious to be able to spend time with them during the holidays.