Know what's expected

  • Published
  • By Colonel John W. Pearse
  • 8th Fighter Wing commander
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- --  While taking command of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing Sept. 30, 1966, at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, then Col. Robin Olds (Wolf 1) said, "Know the mission, what is expected of you and your people."

At the beginning of the year I wrote an article entitled "Are You Ready?" This piece is a follow up to that article as we look at the upcoming Operational Readiness Inspection.

Annually, the Wolf Pack is given the ultimate opportunity to display mastery of our mission to "Defend the base; accept follow-on forces; and prepare to take the fight north!" This is what's expected of us. We've practiced our ability to execute our mission in an environment wrought with chemical and ballistic threats nearly half a dozen times during the 2012-2013 Kunsan Air Base class, and now we're ready to show off that practice.

Wolf 1 also said, "If you are a fighter pilot, you have to be willing to take risks." Those calculated risks in support of the U.S. and our Republic of Korea partners can't happen without a solid system of support to rely on before, during and after the mission.

Our defenders provide robust support to the Wolf Pack 24 hours a day and lay the foundation for our mission. During our Consolidated Unit Inspection (CUI), our defenders will be called to provide unparalleled security that will allow our maintenance, civil-engineer, force-support, medical, communications and logistics warriors to accept follow-on forces while simultaneously sustaining the health, welfare and readiness of our permanent-party members, theater-support personnel, aircraft and facilities.

The 2013 CUI gives us another opportunity to increase confidence in our own abilities to support the 7th Air Force objectives, which are to "Deter, Defend, Defeat" against threats to the U.S. and our Korean partners. Sitting just 109 miles south of the Demilitarized Zone, we cannot know when or if we will be called to execute our full mission, but we can take comfort in knowing we've practiced this mission without exception, employing all training aids necessary to prepare the Wolf Pack for any scenario we may encounter.

Each and every one of you plays a vital role in our mission execution. During the inspection, many of you will be pulled aside and asked to demonstrate your skills with ATSO, self-aid and buddy care and other items from your Airmen's Manual. The attitude you present to the inspectors goes a long way toward how we are perceived as a wing. A confident professional attitude makes the inspectors think we have our act together. An unfriendly attitude or evasive tone has the opposite effect. We've trained the way we are going to fight so engage with the inspectors and show them how well you can accomplish your mission.

I am proud of the Wolf Pack and all you've done to not only prepare for the CUI, but to learn our mission and to stand ready to execute it at a moment's notice.

Take the Fight North! Wolf Pack!