Teamwork critical to both Wolf Pack missions

  • Published
  • 331st Training Squadron
LACKLAND AFB, Texas --  Ask any student of military history to name some of the premier Air Force fighter units over the course of the last 60 years and one of the units that may be mentioned would be the 8th Fighter Wing Wolf Pack, currently located at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea. Ask any Airman who has graduated basic military training from the 331st Training Squadron or any permanent party member assigned to the 737th Training Group to come up with one word that best defines the 331st Training Squadron, and the answer you would receive is Wolf Pack.

The two Wolf Pack units have been known for its contributions to the Air Force mission.

A special visit that took place at the 331st Training Squadron at Lackland AFB, Texas, Feb. 13. Colonel Creig "Wolf 2" Rice, 8th Fighter Wing vice commander, visited the men and women of the 331st Training Squadron in advance of his son Airman Basic David Rice's graduation from the 331st TRS Feb. 15.

"I'm very excited to be here at Lackland and to have had the opportunity to share the rich history of the 8th Fighter Wing Wolf Pack with the 331st Training Squadron," Col. Rice said following motivational speeches to both Military Training Instructors and trainee student leaders assigned to the 331st TRS. "Teamwork is critical to the daily success of both of these units and teamwork is what being a member of the Wolf Pack is all about."

Colonel Rice added he was very proud of his son's graduation from Basic Military Training and the 331st Training Squadron.
"It will always be great to know that my son David started his Air Force journey in a unit also known as the Wolf Pack."

Lt. Col. Thomas Schmidt, 331st Training Squadron commander said Colonel Rice's visit was a wonderful opportunity to highlight the many great things the Wolf Pack squadrons bring to the Air Force.

"From standing ready on the frontlines of the Korean Peninsula half a world away to providing entry-level training for more than 5,000 Air Force recruits annually here at Lackland, both the 8th Fighter Wing and the 331st Training Squadron should be tremendously proud of their contributions to the Air Force mission and their unique association as the only two squadrons in the Air Force known as the Wolf Pack," Colonel Schmidt said.

For one 8th Fighter Wing member here, the Wolf Pack has remained a constant presence in his career.

Tech. Sgt. John Cronin was a Military Training Instructor assigned to the 331st TRS. He arrived there in 2002 and after serving as a MTI, he went back to videography. The career move led him to being assigned to the 8th FW Public Affairs office in February.

"For almost five years I associated myself with the Wolf Pack. I was and still am proud of that name," he said.

Sergeant Cronin served his initial four-year commitment as an MTI and extended for one more year at the 331st TRS. He said that he's ready to serve in another capacity for the Wolf Pack mission.

"Now the Air Force has seen the need to place me in with members of the Wolf pack and I couldn't be more proud," he said. "The Wolf pack at Kunsan has a long history of 'Service Before Self' and 'Excellence In All They Do,' I only hope I can live up to the standards set by those who have howled before me."

8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs also contributed to this article.