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Kudos to our “Excellent” Wing

  • Published
  • By Col. Mike Hornitschek
  • Air Mobility Wing commander
Scott Air Force Base, Ill. --  Incredible! Look what we have just done! We've just completed the first-ever Consolidated Unit Inspection where 180 members of the Air Mobility Command's Inspector General team swarmed our base looking into the details of how well we perform our mission, and according to them, it's "Excellent!"

There were 18 individual IG coins handed out, 27 individual recognitions, and 32 separate Team Awards! The team chief said that it was the closest "Excellent" to an "Outstanding" he had ever seen in his 18 months on the IG--and all on an extremely demanding and comprehensive assessment in which the IG pulled no punches. You folks are simply amazing, and I am in awe of what you have accomplished.

It has been an incredibly long journey that has gotten us to this point. Every single person on our team has risen to the challenge, no one held back, and every single Scott AFB Airman performed brilliantly.

I knew that if any team was capable of turning in a Showcase performance, it would be you. You have demonstrated that when given the resources, you in turn provide the motivation and will, and naturally great things happen for the Air Force.

You have also validated the ideas of Leadership University because you've shown leadership all along the way. From Col. Pete Jenness and his team in Plans and Programs who were the critical link to the scheduling and success of the inspection itself to the Council of Deputies, who's leadership delivered our progress every step of the way, to the newest Airman who arrived just weeks ago and stood up to brief an inspector, my thanks go out to all of you!

We have also validated to the command that they can rely on us for outstanding mission execution, for Showcase support and for being there when they need us to be there. It was a universal effort by more than 2,500 people who made this happen. All I can simply say is thank you for what you have done. You have created accolades that are permanent and enduring, accolades that many people can take credit for.

To say thanks and to provide a proper send-off into the well-deserved four-day Labor Day weekend, I would like to invite all 375 AMW members to please join me today for a post-CUI celebration picnic at the softball pavilion across from our main firehouse (inclement weather location is Hangar 3) from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be live music and free food and it will be an alternate duty location for 375th AMW civilians.

I'll kick it off by recognizing our IG performers again as well as a multitude of additional people who worked just as hard to make this outcome a success. Prior to the picnic, the wing is also sponsoring a "Get CAFinated!" event from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the same location. This is in support of our Comprehensive Airman Fitness initiatives--something we'll be focusing more on after our return from the holiday. It will be a fun and educational event for all those who participate.

Finally, please give a big thank you to your families for their sacrifice--they own this CUI success as much as you do. They are proud of you, and we are proud of them for their support! Congratulations, Showcase Wing--I have never more enthusiastically shouted "3-7-5...Showcase Pride!!!"