Command Corner: Jan. 18

  • Published
  • By Col. Steven Harrison
  • 436th AW commander
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  With January's blistering pace, we've certainly fended off any case of the winter doldrums setting in! We began the week by welcoming local and national dignitaries for a ground breaking ceremony of our Air Traffic Control Facility. As a measure of the civilian community's support for our mission, Delaware's entire congressional delegation (Sen. Joe Biden, Sen. Tom Carper and Rep. Mike Castle) were all present. Additionally, Dover Mayor Carleton Carey, Sr., our Reserve and Air National Guard Partners, the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce, a number of Dover honorary commanders, and many, many others were in attendance.

While our tower still looks fairly good, it is the oldest facility of its kind in the continental U.S. Over the years, it has become increasingly challenging (and expensive) for its communication structures to facilitate use of modern equipment and, from a safety standpoint, its inability to view the entire flight line is not optimal. Our new facility will fix those shortfalls, consolidate the Approach Control Facilities with the tower operation, provide for modern communications and traffic control equipment, provide ample space to train controllers for their critical mission for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, strong enough to withstand hurricane force winds, and offer improved creature comforts. While I'm sure our controllers will look back nostalgically at the time they spent in the old tower, I know they are eagerly awaiting the day when they will be able to move into their new facility.

While the ground breaking was in progress, nearly 90 subject matter experts from Team Dover conducted a site survey of the Combat Readiness Training Center at Volk Field, Wis., in preparation for our upcoming Operational Readiness Inspection. It's extremely important to practice just like we fight, and having a boots-on-the-ground view of the facilities at the CRTC ultimately arms us for future success. Six months and counting, Team Dover...get up for it!

This weekend, we are taking time out to celebrate the accomplishments and the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King's vision of an America in which equality of deed, word and thought, for citizens of all races, religions and creeds ... meets the lofty ideals on which our nation was founded ... is a standard to which we, as servicemembers who swear an oath to the Constitution of the United States, must always aspire.

In the Global War on Terrorism, our personal sacrifice affords other nations a chance to develop a safe and civil society. As we enjoy the weekend in honor of Dr. King, please take some time to also consider the myriad of ways in which you can also advance the cause of civility in America.

Finally, I'd like to thank the 340+ members of Team Dover who braved the cool temperatures for the Warrior Run Jan. 15! As many as 40 members were running with rucksacks in preparation for the Feb. 2 Ruck March, sponsored by the 436th Security Forces Squadron. If it was easy, we'd call it the Buttercup Run. Grinding it out with snow flurries, 30-degree winds in the face and 45 pounds of sand on your back, just for fun ... one more reason why Team Dover is "America's Preeminent Expeditionary Airlift Team!"