JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
"I believe that you have to know where you've come from, you have to know where you are, and that you have to figure out where you want to be before you can make a plan to get there."
That is how Col. Ken Rizer, 316th Wing/Joint Base Andrews commander, opened his commander's call at the base theater July 30.
Colonel Rizer's purpose for the commander's call was to lay out his vision for the new 11th Wing to the Airmen in attendance. In order to do so, he first explained the history of the wing and its continuing importance to the Air Force mission serving as the "Chief's Own."
Colonel Rizer's vision for the new 11th Wing, scheduled to be activated October 1, includes important principles, missions and goals each and every Airmen is expected to know, understand and implement.
The three principles are:
Vigilance - This is exemplified by the 1st Helicopter Squadron's 24/7 alert schedule and the 316th Security Forces Squadron securing our base perimeter and keeping all of the servicemembers and their families who live on Andrews safe, Colonel Rizer said.
Precision - Each and every unit on this installation is expected to be precise in their mission. Whether it is the firefighters who train daily in the event they are called upon to save a life, the Arlington Chaplaincy presiding over a fallen servicemember's funeral service, finance ensuring everyone is receiving the pay and benefits they are entitled to or the force support squadron keeping personnel records updated, he said.
Global Impact - Andrews is known as the "gateway to the United States" for its support to the countless foreign distinguished visitors that pass through here to do official business with our country. Andrews is also where our most influential leaders, both military and civilian, depart from to do America's business around the globe, he said. Also, once the mission movement occurs, the new 11th Wing will support more than 10,000 additional Airmen who are either stationed at the Pentagon, or geographically separated around the world.
Colonel Rizer then briefed the mission which can be broken down into five parts:
1. Defend National Leaders
2. Deploy Combat Ready Airmen
3. Showcase the United States Air Force
4. Provide Presidential Support to Airmen and their families.
5. Foster Joint Teamwork
Colonel Rizer then proceeded to lay out 10 goals for the next year. Those goals are:
1. Excellent or Outstanding on all inspections; no "unsats" in any graded areas
2. Mission movement without mission degradation
3. 90 percent initial PT pass rate & wing average score; zero repeat failures
4. Improve operation plans & contingency readiness through robust exercise program
5. Deploy combat ready Airmen with zero readiness discrepancies
6. Create and successfully execute a Joint Base Andrews appearance strategy
7. Refine and adjust joint basing memorandum of agreements, as required
8. Use technology and innovation to create standardized, effective processes
9. Validate and formalize budget and manning requirements
10. Improve infrastructure to support mission in accordance with long range plan
"I challenge all the commanders, chiefs and supervisors out there to look at your visions, mission and goals in your organizations and make them supportive of these goals," Colonel Rizer said.
He concluded the commander's call by asking the Airmen in attendance for their help in coming up with a new wing motto to replace "Vigilance...Strength...Pride." He encouraged them to pass up their ideas through their chain of command to help best identify the next motto.