Giddy up

  • Published
  • By Col. "Tip" Stinnette
  • 39th Air Base Wing Commander
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  We are less than six months out from our surety inspection with miles to go to prepare.

You can clearly note the countdown in days on this page in each issue of the Tip of the Sword. We have set an exercise schedule to cover the next five months and get us prepared. We will ensure that everyone knows our exercise and preparation plan so that we can all schedule our summer family activities accordingly. We will incrementally turn up the rheostat on the tempo of activity as we close in on the inspection date. At the end of the day, it is all about doing what we do and showing the inspection team that we know how to do it.

Winning is a way of life and in the surety business there is no second place, that's about right, or good enough ... it is a zero/one mission ... we either pass or fail ... gear, flaps, stop! Commit yourself to knowing your job; giddy up and get to it.

This past week we hosted the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. Chief and Mrs. Murray along with Chief and Mrs. Coleman, our USAFE command chief master sergeant, were thoroughly impressed with our team and sense of pride ... it came out loud and clear with each person they talked to during their visit and I believe it is exactly the recipe that sets us apart from every other wing and base in the Air Force. Incirlik is all about its people and sense of community!

I can not think of a better way to welcome in the spring than to host the Patriot Tour here at the 'Lik' April 7. Headlining the tour are Lee Greenwood, Restless Heart, Dick Hardwick, and the Patriot Cheerleaders. It promises to be a terrific event and one worth marking on your calendar. Keep an eye on the TOS for additional information on the tour details.

Speaking of which, you may have noticed that our base paper, the Tip of the Sword, is now four pages longer. We are excited about the additional space and will use it to highlight the varied interests around the base.

You will also get more Air Force and command level news and greater coverage of our sports activities.

We will also be rolling out the perspectives of unit commanders around the base, more history stories, and a spotlight on people who do good things for others ... Incirlik Heroes.

Our Incirlik Heroes program is all about recognizing our teammates who go out of their way to help someone else ... it only takes a phone call to Julie Halstead at 676- 6755 to nominate someone and it's great way to thank them. Our first Incirlik Hero is found on Page 16.

My final point for this issue of the TOS is about fun, sun, beach, water, and alcohol.

It's a killer combination, but subtract or moderate the alcohol component and it becomes what spring and summer can be all about.

As we run into our goal day to lead into this weekend I ask that you stop for just a moment and consider the six shooter analogy I shared with you in our sexual assault
TOS issue ... Do the Digits, 0 (no ARIs)-1 (one drink per hour)-3 (three drink limit in an evening). We are not immune to DUIs here at the 'Lik' and we certainly have had our fair share of ARIs ... think beforehand and Do the Digits!