New commander shares mission, vision with wing

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Eric Summers Jr.
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Members of the 39th Air Base Wing were introduced to their new commander during a series of commander's calls July 12, here.

Col. Craig Wills, 39th Air Base Wing commander, met with the various units around base to discuss his expectations, vision and priorities for Incirlik Airmen and to share why he is proud to be an Airman.

"I promise you I am going to do my best to make this base and this wing a great place to live and work," said Wills. "That's what I'm here for. I have two agendas - our mission and our people."

While he stressed the importance of the mission here, Wills also emphasized that Airmen need to take care of themselves and their families.

"You are not helping me if you stay at work for 14, 16, 18 hours and don't go to the gym," he said. "You can't help me if you can't pass your PT test. You can't help me if you're neglecting your family and not being happy at home. You're not making the Air Force better by sacrificing more and more at your own expense. Take care of yourself and your family. You have to have balance in your life or you are not a full-up, combat-capable Airmen."

The commander then cemented his vision for the 39th Air Base Wing: To be the Air Force's premier forward operating sites providing USAFE's most respected and versatile capability. He summed it all up to one word: Excellence.

"You ought to expect that I'm going to match your effort," said Wills. "You are a bunch of hard working American Airmen and you ought to expect your supervisors and commanders are going to work as hard as you do. I promise you are going to get 100 percent from me, and I am going to work as hard as you do. You deserve it."

He then summed up the mission of supporting and protecting U.S. and NATO assets and people throughout Turkey while providing a full spectrum of capabilities to the war fighter with one word.

"Everything!" Wills said. "This is one of the coolest wings in the Air Force. You guys do everything. You catch C-17s coming from Afghanistan and then you get them launched out the door."

After focusing on the mission, Wills spoke on his priority to strengthen the alliance here.

"Turkey is an important ally," Wills said. "If Turkey would have made different choices after World War II, the world would be a different place. The Turks have always stood with us when it mattered most."

"The Turks have always been great allies of our country," Wills explained. "We come from different cultures and that's awesome. The way we are going to make progress and the way we are going to be successful is by being a great combined team, and that means we have to treat each other with respect and work together."

Next, he spoke about how he wants Airmen to treat each other with dignity and respect.

"We are professionals," said Wills. "We have the right to work in environment where we are treated with respect. That's not an optional feature. The standard is a place that's professional and where people treat each other with dignity and respect."

The colonel then showed pictures of the Airmen and aircraft throughout history that have left their mark on the world and emphasized legacy they left behind.

"It's Airmen that make all this work," Wills stated. "I want you to know what you are a part of. I want you to remember that every day."

It's not easy to be a part of this," Wills concluded. "You've sacrificed yourself for your country by being here. You've distinguished yourself by volunteering."