Commentary: 'Excellence in all we do' prevails

  • Published
  • By Col. Randal L. Bright
  • 512th Airlift Wing commander
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Congratulations and well done! The members of the Air Force Commander in Chief Installation Excellence Team were wowed by what they saw, as they inspected numerous areas of excellence throughout the base during their visit to Dover Air Force Base Jan. 27 to 30. 

The impact of winning this competition is a check for $1 million to be used for quality of life improvements on the base. Being labeled the winner of this competition is not a 436th Airlift Wing event but rather a Dover AFB event -- Team Dover. 

Col. Steven Harrison, 436th AW commander, has expressed he welcomes ideas on how to spend the money, along with the $100,000 received for being named the best in Air Mobility Command. The suggestions must improve the quality of life for the Total Force: active, Reserve and civilian. If the improvement doesn't touch these three groups, it's off the table. 

Now that the Installation Excellence visit is over, we can turn our full attention to the Operational Readiness Inspection. We've been in the planning and training stages for several months, essentially since I arrived on station last June. We will proudly move forth and execute this ORI in the traditional 512th AW manner, proving once again we uphold "excellence in all we do!" Everyone needs to remain focused on the ORI, and make every minute of your availability count. It's going to take all of us to execute this inspection. 

Before we get to this ORI, we have a couple of events to judge our progress on getting ready. During the March UTA, we will be participating in a Team Dover exercise. It's not as extensive as the February deployment exercise but it assesses our processes as we meld the two wings together for the ORI. In April, we will deploy the entire ORI force to perform an Operational Readiness Exercise, essentially our dress rehearsal. Take great care to participate to the fullest and capture those items we need to improve. 

As I've mentioned before, we all need to embrace readiness, not just to accomplish an ORI but to be fully prepared to perform our mission with as little notice as possible. And, that means having your family and employer ready as well. 

During the first week of March, we are proud to be represented at the Air Force Reserve Command 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year Banquet by one of our own, Master Sgt. Veronica Aceveda. She was chosen as the Senior NCO representative from 22nd Air Force to compete at the command level and possibly on to compete at the Air Force level. Congratulations Sergeant Aceveda and good luck! 

Again, thank you for the service you provide for our nation. I am honored and proud to be your commander.