Fall 2019 The Arctic Guardian Tech. Sgt. Ezra Pitzer, 168th Operation Support Squadron air crew flight equipment technician, dons a cold water emersion suit for a training video Oct. 19, 2019, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The cold water emersion suit will be used by a KC-135 air crew in the event of a cold water emergency. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Shannon Chace) Commander’s Corner “Practice makes permanent” detailed in our National Defense Strategy. I first read that quote in a safety article when I was However, the engine that drives all of our success is Chief of Safety and the sentiment has stuck with me you! Our people are our greatest asset. As you are well ever since. The cliché, of course, is that “practice makes aware, it takes grit and resilience to live and work in the perfect,” but I think what more accurately reflects our interior of Alaska. To be successful we need to continue life in the real world is that practice makes permanent. to foster a culture of teamwork and family. We must also The daily repetition of our actions becomes the find ways to innovate and leverage the multitude of skills standard. that you possess. “If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you Our commander of the Alaska Air National Guard, develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an Brig. Gen. Scott Howard, has set the goal for our state to exception, it is a prevailing attitude.” — Colin Powell be at 95% personnel end strength by Oct. 1, 2020. This is My goal for us all is that we strive for excellence a lofty but completely achievable goal! in all of our endeavors. “Excellence, not perfection” We have awesome recruiters, but to accomplish this as Chief Master Sgt. (retired) Jim Wolverton would goal they are going to need your help. Recruiting and often remind me. To this end, we need to embrace a retention must be every member’s mission. I need you to debrief culture where we can honestly evaluate each be an evangelist for the Alaska Air Guard. I ask that you other’s performance without fear of reprisal. The goal is continue to make this a place you are proud to be part of improvement and the standard is excellence. and spread the word in our community. My vision for you, Guardians of the Last Frontier, You are the best group of Airmen with which I have is that we are ready Guardsmen, committed to mission ever had the pleasure of serving. I am honored to be excellence. That we are people-focused Airmen embracing a your commander. culture of respect, teamwork and family. My priorities while I serve as your commander are Best! Mission, Readiness and People. Mission (or Lethality) and Readiness are leadership focus areas from our Col Rich Adams SecDef on down through our TAG and ATAG and are 2 Guardians of the Last Frontier welcome new 168th Wing commander Story by Master Sgt. Natalie Stanley 168th Wing Public Affairs EIELSON AIR FORCE During the ceremony BASE, Alaska — Col. Adams thanked his family Richard Adams assumed for their continued support command of the 168th as he begins his new Wing, Alaska Air National command. He also shared Guard, from Col. Bryan his vision for the wing White during a change moving forward. of command ceremony “Mission, readiness and here Oct. 20. Brig. Gen. people,” he said. “I want to Scott Howard, Assistant make sure everyone in the Adjutant General, Alaska wing understands the vital Air National Guard was the role that you play in our presiding officer. mission success and I charge Howard praised the wing our leaders to ensure that and its members during every Airmen in our wing is the ceremony. an expert at their craft and “You and every knows their direct link to individual wing member mission excellence.” is and always have been “There will be a test, it the core, the key and will be graded and group foundation of the Alaska commanders, I’m looking at Air National Guard’s you,” Adams said. Col. Richard Adams accepts the guidon from Brig. success,” Howard said. Adams said his ambition Gen. Scott A. Howard during the 168th Wing change “I look forward to what command ceremony October 20, 2019, at the base for the wing is for every Col. Adams and all of theater, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Prior to his Airman to become an you can accomplish in current position Adams served as the 168th Operations advocate for the Alaska Air the coming years.” Group commander. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by National Guard. Adams assumed Senior Airman Shannon Chace) “I want recruiting and command of the retention to be every wing after serving as the commander of the 168th member’s mission,” he said. Operations Group, a position he had held since May Adams said he hopes to leverage the skills of the 2018. Airmen and resources to build a stronger wing. Adams was commissioned in 1991 as a distinguished “The most important aspect of all of this though is graduate through the ROTC program at the University our people,” Adams said. “It takes grit and resiliency to of Colorado, Boulder. In 2004 he transferred from the live in the interior [of Alaska].” active-duty Air Force to the Alaska Air National Guard. 3 Kile assumes command of 168th Operations Group Story and photo by Senior Airman Mae Frazier Col. Brian D. 168th Wing Public Affairs Kile assumes EIELSON AIR FORCE command BASE, Alaska — Col. Brian Kile of the assumed command of the 168th 168th Wing Wing Operations Group, Alaska Operations Air National Guard, from Col. Group, Alaska Air National Richard Adams during a change Guard, from of command ceremony here Oct. Col. Richard 19. Col. Bryan White, 168th Wing G. Adams commander, was the presiding during a officer. change of Kile assumed command of the command group after serving as director ceremony Oct. of operations of joint staff at 19, 2019, at Joint Force Headquarters, Alaska Eielson Air National Guard, Joint Base Force Base, Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Alaska. He was responsible for providing direct oversight of more than 4,000 personnel in two Air National Guard wings and two Army Guard brigades during domestic operations events. new 168th Wing commander. Kile asked the Kile enlisted in the Air National Amongst many accomplishments, group to trust he Guard in 1990 as a loadmaster Kile has held numerous leadership will make decisions with the best with the 210th Rescue Squadron positions throughout his career and intentions and that he will ‘go to bat’ before being selected into the flew over 600 hours on 139 Rescue for his new team. undergraduate pilot training Coordination Center missions, During the ceremony, Kile program in 1998 when he resulting in 158 combat saves. thanked his family for their transitioned into the officer corps. “What my biography doesn’t read continued support as he moves “You are the perfect person at this is that I am a football coach,” Kile forward in his career. moment to take over this group and said. “This is very similar to my “I am loyal to Alaska, the National carry out the mission,” said Adams, leadership style. I am a coach first, Guard, and as your leader I will be the relinquishing commander of the especially when it comes to carrying loyal to you,” Kile said. 168th Operations Group and the out our no-fail mission.” 4 168th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron welcomes new commander Lt. Col. Jennifer Casillo, 168th Maintenance Group commander, passes the guidon to incoming 168th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander, Lt. Col. Lyle Langston, Alaska Air National Guard, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Oct. 16, 2019. Prior to taking command of the 168th AMXS, Langston was the executive officer and director of staff for the 168th Wing. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Adam Keele) 213th Space Warning Squadron welcomes new leader Lt. Col. Joshua Sprague accepts the guidon from Col. Brian Kile, 168th Operations Group commander, during the 213th Space Warning Squadron change of command ceremony at Clear Air Force Station, Oct. 21, 2019. Sprague assumed command of the 213th SWS from Lt. Col. Michael Scadden. Prior to assuming command he was the 213th SWS director of operations. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Natalie Stanley) 5 The healing power of Kansas An Airman with the 168th Wing visits with Kansas, the wing's therapy dog July 22, 2019, at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Story and photos by Senior by starting conversations, creating a Once the application was approved a Airman Shannon Chace positive work environment and opening trainer from the organization brought opportunities for Airmen to get to Kansas to Alaska and provided Excited voices echo down the hall know each other. familiarization training for Lorenz. and people start leaning out of their Lorenz explained that she had “She showed me how to work with offices to see what is happening. Soon a the idea of acquiring a therapy dog the dog and all the basic commands, we group of Airmen are gathered together for the wing after talking with other started bonding, Kansas and I,” Lorenz talking. In the middle of it all is a yellow professionals in the field. said. lab wagging her tail. “I had heard how they were like magic Master Sgt. Jason Dandurand, 1st Sgt. The dog’s name is Kansas. Wearing and how people would come just to see with the 168th Mission Support Group, a blue vest decorated with various the dog and be so thrilled,” Lorenz said.