Everyone is an operator

  • Published
  • By Col. "Tip" Stinnette
  • 39th Air Base Wing Commander
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  'Mission identity equals success,' in four words we get to the point of being an operator, which is a tactical association with the mission. In the past, we have associated operators with sun-glassed zippersuits (aviators with sunglasses). This association is a relic of days gone by and is not reflective of today's Air Force. The truth of the matter is we are all operators at the 'Lik because we all have a tactical association with the mission. From finance to the flightline we are all operators and we all have a vested interest and direct tactical contribution to the mission. No matter where you work at Incirlik, your proximity to the mission can be expressed in yards and meters. You can not get much closer than that!

This coming week we host the United States Air Force in Europe Air Traffic Evaluation Inspection Team.

This is a significant inspection for Team Incirlik which will assess our readiness to support our flightline mission from navigation aids (Communications Squadron) to crash, fire, rescue response (Civil Engineer Squadron) to rubber removal (Contracting Squadron) to pallet yard layout (Air Mobility Squadron) to fuel delivery (Logistics Readiness Squadron) to security (Security Forces Squadron) to transient alert support (Maintenance Squadron) to flightline driving (everyone) to air traffic control (Operations Squadron). There is not an organization here at the 'Lik that will not, in one way or the other, have an impact on the success of this evaluation.

We pride ourselves in our contribution to the Global War on Terrorism and for good reason. We have sustained on-going operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan at near record rates while serving as a key bridge for the Pakistan earthquake relief effort.

We are Guard, Reserve, active duty, civilian, USAFE, Air Mobility Command, and host nation operators and teammates committed to serving the mission. Let's show the USAFE team what we already know, we are the best in our business the business of serving the mission as a team of operators!

We also want to congratulate the quarterly award winners for the October through December quarter: Category I Civilian, Regenna Osborne, 39th Maintenance Squadron, Category II Civilian, Reginald Callaway, 39th Communication Squadron, CGO, Capt. Lucian Ivan, 39th MXS, SNCO, Master Sgt. Gerald Roy, 39th Maintenance Group, NCO, Tech. Sgt. Spencer Carter, 728th Air Mobility Squadron, Airman, Senior Airman Jennifer Conner, 39th MXS, Honor Guard member of the quarter, Airman 1st Class Aaron Heinings, 39th CS, Active Duty volunteer of the quarter, Tech. Sgt. Douglas Jarman, 39th CS, and civilian volunteer of the quarter Nichole Fitzpatrick, 39th Medical Group.

The awards don't stop there the Air Force News Det. 7 Maintenance team has been named the 2005 Air Force News Agency Small Workcenter of the Year.

Members of the team who achieved this accomplishment are: Master Sgt. Tim Mertz, NCOIC, maintenance, Tech. Sgt. Daryle Griffith, maintenance supervisor, Staff Sgt. Ryan Johnson, broadcast maintenance technician, Staff Sgt. Luis Ornelas, broadcast maintenance technician, Staff Sgt. Karl Yocher, broadcast maintenance technician, Senior Airman Shea Field, broadcast maintenance technician.

These gentlemen were key players in relocating the broadcast station to a temporary facility and sustaining operations by keeping the equipment functional in less than ideal conditions.

The base Civilian Personnel Office also deserves recognition for being the outstanding civilian personnel intermediate program in USAFE, for 2005.