Wolf readies Pack for operational readiness inspection

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amanda Savannah
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Col. John Dolan, 8th Fighter Wing commander, invigorated the wing during a Wolf Call March 31 to ready the pack for the 2011 Pacific Air Force Operational Readiness Inspection, which began April 2.

The "Wolf" arrived clad in individual protective equipment and was escorted by security forces to the pep rally bonfire event, where he howled his wing's mission statement as the crowd responded in kind.

"Defend the base!" Colonel Dolan said, and "Hooah!" the wing responded.

"Accept Follow-On Forces!" howled the Wolf, and the crowd said "Bring it!"

"Take the Fight North!" said Colonel Dolan, and the wing shouted "Wolf Pack!"

To begin the call before Colonel Dolan's arrival, emcee Capt. Jon Wentzel, 8th Operations Group, invited the most recent addition to the Wolf Pack to volunteer to light the bonfire. Airman First Class Gabriel Reyna, 8th Civil Engineer Squadron fire protection, stepped up to accept the honor.

Colonel Dolan then took the opportunity to announce the selection of four Wolf Pack Airmen to Senior Airman Below-the-Zone before he spoke. The four Airmen First Class are Robert Duarte, 8th Logistics Readiness Squadron; Jason Devore, 8th LRS; Brandon Garneau, 8th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; and Matthew Phillips, 8th LRS.

Colonel Dolan then asked if the crowd was ready.

"We've got to make this official," Colonel Dolan said. "We started this with this class last summer. The only way to get better is to practice ... and take it as if it's the real thing. We've always taken that attitude of fight what we see, and after (Colonel Dolan's first exercise in) July, we continued on with that excellence and pride."

The wing commander then chronicled the exercises and events that took place from July 2010 to March 2011, which helped the Wolf Pack prepare for the PACAF ORI.

"We went through the regular season, and it's time for the final game, it's time for the Super Bowl," he said. "For those of you who've been here since last summer, you've gone through 10 months of heartache, sweat, long days and long hours. You've given up a lot. But you need to take what you've put in, into going into next week. It's time to put your game face on, it's time to put the uniform on, and it's time to get down to business. It's time to stop messing around with these 'exercises,' and prove it. You've proven it to me time and time again, but let's put it down in words."

The colonel also reminded everyone that the Wolf Pack isn't just on the peninsula for practice, but ultimately to stand with our South Korean allies in the face of the enemy.

"What we do here on the peninsula is high," Colonel Dolan said. "People rely on us with their life. The people of South Korea rely on each and every one of you to do your job, every day, and not just at a pretend level. At 110 percent is what they expect, because if we don't do that, we're not very much of a deterrence, and if we're not very much of a deterrence, we're not holding up our end of the contract."

As Colonel Dolan closed, he called out the Wolf Pack mission a final time, and security forces Airmen gave the event a 50-caliber blank-fire closing call.