You keep the most important mission in the world moving! Published May 8, 2012 By Lt. Col. Christopher Borchardt 436th Aerospace Medicine commander DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Throughout this base you are doing amazing things that affect people all over the world and I'd encourage you to take some credit for it. I'm saying this because I've overheard more than one conversation where someone asks another person what they do and the answer is often less than inspiring. Answers like "I clean/move/test/ install/repair these things over here" or "I fill out these forms/charts/records and file them over there". I intend to give you and different perspective and a suggestion for answering that question in the future. What we do here at Dover is remarkable and it's worth an inspiring answer I grew up in the Aerospace Medicine business and the guiding principle I was taught was "keep 'em flying." When Mom, neighbors, coworkers, and friends would ask what I do in the Air Force I'd say "I keep 'em flying." That would always get a raised eyebrow and several more follow-on questions that would allow me to describe with pride what it is that I do on a day to day basis. I could have simply said "I do physical exams, hand out pills, and fill out too much paperwork" which would have ended the conversation there. My "keep 'em flying" answer has changed over the years depending on who's asking. I've said "I ensure we can put warheads on foreheads," "I keep the mightiest Air Force on the planet flying," or all sorts of other variations depending on whether I'm talking about fighters, heavies, or tankers. If you're supporting tankers and going for laughs I've used "I help pass gas all over the world". . The important thing is take credit for what our Air Force does because of you. Your follow-on to that opening line will get more specific and make more sense to your listener. For instance: "Look at that jet. See that panel on the side? A few feet back from that door is the part I fixed so it could fly and get those relief supplies to the earthquake." The point is you'll have taken credit for the truly critical piece of the puzzle you fill and left a lasting positive impression. I'm writing this after meeting with the Japanese who benefitted from our efforts here and I can assure you they were appreciative and amazed at what we do here on a daily basis. While this base is not physically large its mission is more massive than nearly every other country's entire air force. Dover AFB's impact is felt throughout the world because of you. You've trained and developed skills that the Air Force values and requires to move this mission which means you're entitled to be proud. Keep that in mind when someone asks you what you do. When you see me around the base I'll proudly tell you "I keep 'em flying". What will you tell me?