COMMANDER’S CORNER: DEDICATION TO COMPLIANCE - PAGE 2 Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
Thursday, July 12, 2018 Vol. 63 No. 28 MEET THE CHIEF: 544 ISRG change Chief Master Sgt. Jacob Simmons of command Please tell us about your background: I enlisted into the military because I wanted to do something that mattered; something I could be proud doing until I figured out which way was up for my life. Growing up at Fort Hood, Texas, I actually had every intention of joining the Army and would have been a soldier had I not listened to a still small voice during one life-changing event. While getting set to sign my very final piece of Army enlistment paperwork at MEPs, an Airman walked by in service dress. I stopped just shy of the Oath when I realized that in my eagerness to get “life” started I didn’t research all of my options – and I owed myself that. It wasn’t cold feet, I just knew the magnitude of what I was doing. So I turned to my recruiter and told him I needed to learn something about the Air Force before I’d be ready to swear in to the Army. One conversation with the Air Force recruiter back home and a good look at the career catalog, and I was sold! I came in “open-general” believing that any specialty the Air Force assigned me to could offer a future in or out of the military. Of course, like most Airmen, I didn’t think about serving down the road past my initial enlistment; I just needed to get the ball rolling faster in my life. By Staff Sgt. Erica Picariello As a brand new Airman Basic, I was accessed
into the Aerospace Control and Warning Systems (U.S. Air Force photo by Craig Denton) Operations (1C5) career field. It’s very similar to PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — Col. Matteo Martemucci (left), 70th PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — On a rainy being a Space Operator (1C6) – they just operate in Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing commander passes the Friday afternoon, Chief Master Sgt. Jacob Simmons, the air domain. In fact, the two career fields were so 544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group guidon to Col. 21st Space Wing command chief had a 30 minute break closely aligned at one time, you could hop between in his schedule to discuss his journey, how he views Maurizio Calabrese (right) 544 ISRG incoming commander, who assumed their jobs, tasks and locations. If you go to the North command June 27, 2018. The ceremony was held at The Club on Peterson our mission, what we can expect of him, and what he See Chief page 12 expects from the men and women of the 21 SW. Air Force Base, Colorado. MAFFS ACTIVATION: Reserve C-130s support Colorado firefighting efforts
302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — The Air Force Reserve Command’s 302nd Airlift Wing flew multiple Modular Airborne Fire Fighting missions today dropping fire retardant to draw lines of containment supporting the suppression efforts of the Spring Creek fire in Colorado. The 302nd AW received a request for assistance from the National Interagency Fire Center for two MAFFS-equipped C-130 Hercules air- craft and aircrews to support fire suppression efforts in the Western U.S. MAFFS is a self-contained aerial firefighting system, owned by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, which can discharge 3,000 gallons of fire retardant in less than 10 seconds, covering an area one-quarter of a mile long by 100 feet wide. Once the load is discharged, it can be refilled in less than 12 minutes on the ground. The Department of Defense, through U.S. Northern Command at Peterson AFB, provides unique military support to firefighting efforts when requested by the National Interagency Fire Center and approved by the Secretary of Defense. These diverse mission assets are prepared to respond quickly and effectively to protect lives, property, critical (Courtesy photo) infrastructure and natural resources, and can include, but are not COLORADO — The view of the Spring Creek fire from an Air Force Reserve Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped C-130 limited to, MAFFS, military helicopters and ground forces capable Hercules aircraft in Colorado, July 2, 2018. The Air Force Reserve Command’s 302nd Airlift Wing received a request for assistance from of supporting the firefighting efforts. the National Interagency Fire Center for two MAFFS-equipped C-130s and aircrews to support fire suppression efforts in the western U.S.
INSIDE News 1-3 Briefs 4 Classifieds 18 Base Tracking AF week Crossword 19 Briefs wildlife in review Page 4 Page 6 Page 10 SPACE OBSERVER 2 Thursday, July 12, 2018 www.peterson.af.mil 21ST SPACE WING COMMANDER’S CORNER Dedication to compliance PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- In an Air having faith in the system. To knowingly not comply Force full of “shalls,” “musts,” and “wills,” total com- with Air Force requirements is to believe you know pliance is something I don’t think is ever achievable. Master Sgt. better than the leaders appointed over you. Sometimes The statement “COMPLIANCE WITH THIS requirements and processes seem utterly cumbersome PUBLICATION IS MANDATORY,” is written across Richard Nash and nonsensical, but disregarding the standards is thousands of directive Air Force publications that not an option given to us. We must have faith our Airmen are ordered to follow, but in the end, no Air leaders have written these processes for a reason and Force member or organization can know of, or com- 721st Security we must strive to educate ourselves to understand pletely comply with all requirements. When internally Forces Squadron the bigger picture. or externally inspected, our inevitable violations are Achieving “Excellence in all we do” is easier said categorized as minor, significant, or critical. than done. To me, excellence is something more evo- Are these violations a measure of our commitment lutionary than static. We all know that members of to the Air Force and its mission? I believe the answer Force Core Values is vital while continuously striving the Air Force must continue to pursue personal devel- is no. to meet this goal. opment in order to be successful in the Air Force but Violations will happen, however, the important Having “Integrity first” is more than just doing the the same is true for an individual’s or organization’s measuring stick is how Airmen and organizations right thing when it comes to compliance. Sometimes adherence to standards. When I think about the eas- use standards of conduct, for example the Air Force situations may occur where doing the right thing iest way to conduct self-development, it is to pursue Core Values, to better comply with the thousands of by Air Force standards is hard, or even impossible. education. The same is true for compliance. written orders they are given. Integrity may mean having the courage to identify As stated above, there are thousands of Air Force My intent with the above statements is not to mini- violations even if doing so will “rock the boat.” publications. Reading, studying, and complying with mize the importance of written orders by authoritative Organizations are often reluctant to change, espe- them is a responsibility of all Airmen at every level publications. Air Force publications are necessary to cially when mission success is high. Identifying rule of leadership. It may be possible to be in compliance ensure that standardized processes and by-law re- violations is everyone’s job and should be encouraged, by mistake if you haven’t read the requirements, but quirements are followed by over 600,000 total force however, when things are running successfully, change it is impossible to be excellent in all that you do by personnel. My intent is to acknowledge the fact that it agents are often discouraged. We must strive to not mistake. Excellence takes work. is impossible to be in compliance with every require- only do the right thing when no one is looking, but The inability to follow all Air Force standards is ment at all times, and that’s OK. What’s not OK is not also identify the right thing to the unreceptive. On not something often discussed, but is a struggle that doing anything about that fact. the other hand, leaders must have the openness to be individuals and organizations face every day. The Even though 100 percent compliance can never be receptive when violations are brought to them. best tool you can use to help minimize compliance achieved, it is still the duty of Air Force personnel The biggest challenge I see in regards to compliance violations, may be one of the first things you learned to identify and minimize violations. Using the Air and the second core value of “Service before self,” is in basic training, the Air Force Core Values.
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