The year ahead

  • Published
  • By Brig. Gen. Mark W. Graper
  • 354th Fighter Wing Commander
Fellow Icemen: I hope you enjoyed a good break over the long holiday weekends. I appreciate those of you who worked shifts over the holidays to keep Eielson safe, functional and warm. 

As we begin 2009, I'd like to look back at our accomplishments in 2008 and look forward to our key events in the year to come. 

The Icemen put forth a great effort to make 2008 a proud success in all mission areas: 

-Prepare aviation forces for combat: We conducted three highly successful Red Flag-Alaska exercises as well as Northern Edge exercises, providing world-class training for US and allied forces. Early in 2008 we traded F-16 aircraft with the 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base, Korea, sending out our Block 40s and receiving Block 30s. As Iceman maintainers overcame challenges associated with our new fleet the 18th Aggressor Squadron achieved full operational capability. The operations and maintenance team supported all four exercises at Eielson and deployed to Mountain Home and Hickam Air Force Bases for roadshow training with the Indian and US Air Forces. 

-Deploy Airmen in support of global operations: More than 600 Icemen deployed worldwide to support combatant commander requirements. At last count, three Icemen had earned Bronze Star medals for service in combat theaters in 2008: well done! 

-Enable the staging of forces: Our team enabled the staging of Alaska NORAD Region tankers, Olympic Titan aircraft and tankers, and our Army Stryker Brigade teammates from Fort Wainwright. Additionally, we hosted an element of the Army's global response force that was on a short string for worldwide deployment. 

In addition to these accomplishments, the medics of the 354th Medical Group passed their military and civilian accreditation inspections with flying colors. Our infrastructure and quality of life improved with the opening of our new fitness center field house and the new chapel. We hosted an array of VIPs including Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney McKinley; General and Mrs. Carrol Chandler; Lt. Gen. and Mrs. Dana Atkins; and the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. and Mrs. James Cartwright. In a special highlight of the year, we hosted President and Mrs. George Bush and their daughter Barbara... the first time since the mid-1970s that a sitting Commander-in-Chief visited Eielson. 

What's in store for 2009? Certainly we'll continue with our prepare, deploy and enable baseline mission. Our overall top priority for 2009, however, is to prepare for and pass the Headquarters Pacific Air Forces Operational Readiness Inspection in May. The ORI is an important evaluation of the wing by the PACAF Inspector General. In conjunction with our 168th Air Refueling Wing teammates we'll be evaluated on our ability to deploy and receive Airmen, cargo and aircraft. The IG will look at our capability to do this not in the context of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom or daily operations, but rather in an Operations Plan/Contingency Plan-like scenario; in other words, simulating Eielson's support of the high end of the spectrum of conflict. Those Icemen who simulate deploying will also be evaluated in Ability to Survive and Operate skills (e.g., donning the chemical protective ensemble, decontamination procedures, self-aid buddy care, etc). Finally, the IG will look at our ability to respond to various incidents replicating the fog of war, such as major accidents, and to defend the base from threats we might face in Alaska. Due to the importance of the ORI, units will be doing a lot of part task training to get ready; the whole wing will have two Operational Readiness Exercises, i.e. full dress rehearsals. 

On the heels of the ORI, HQ PACAF will be here to conduct Logistics Standardization and Evaluation Team inspection, a detailed evaluation of our logistic practices and procedures. This is another very important external look at the 354th FW that will showcase Icemen expertise. 

Families: What does all of this mean for you? Families also serve; you are part of the Iceman Team too. All these activities in the wing affect you as well. I ask that you continue to follow similar aspects of our wing mission: Prepare yourselves for busy schedules and our arctic conditions, Deploy yourselves in whatever activities keep you and your neighbors encouraged, and Enable your active duty or civilian spouse to continue to do his or her job excellently here. One exciting new program that Pacific Air Forces is starting is Care Teams; you'll start to hear about that in the coming months; if you don't hear anything, ask...the information will be going out soon! Every family member will be asked to play an active part in this program. As always, I thank you for your service and sacrifice. 

We have a busy year to look forward to in 2009 but the challenges are well within our capacity to meet with great success. I am very proud of the Iceman Team, our accomplishments in 2008 and what we will do in 2009. 

Thank you for your hard work in defense of our great nation. I am honored to serve with you at Eielson where our team is Ready to go at 50 below!