Commanders begin planning roadmap for 2011 operations

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Thomas Trower
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  On the restored site of a 1943 World War II airfield, wing and group leadership from RAF Mildenhall gathered Sept. 23 to establish a guide for every Airman under their command.

Thorpe Abbotts airfield was once the home of the 100th Bombardment Group (Heavy) where B-17 Flying Fortresses flew bombing and resupply missions for 8th Air Force. Now, the unit's great descendent, the 100th Air Refueling Wing, operates nearby and must be guided to achieve its full potential.

The Strategic Alignment and Development plan is a practice used in the civilian industry and corporate world. RAF Mildenhall is one of the first bases in the Air Force using the program/

The Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century office here facilitates and provides the structure for events such as this. Col. Chad Manske, 100th ARW commander, utilized their groundbreaking efforts, to establish the standard for wing operations for the next 12 months.

This plan draft is scheduled to take effect soon after the new year and establishes three top priorities for the force, including military and civilian, that operates on RAF Mildenhall. Each of these priorities is intertwined by the overall mission and vision of the 100th ARW.

Mission statements for military units explain the purpose of the unit, and the 100th ARW's is to "Provide and employ global air refueling, airlift, combat support and expeditionary forces." That can only be accomplished by reflecting on the vision of the wing.

Becoming "A world class force excelling in mission readiness and execution" is the overall goal of the wing and should be on the horizon of every worker's view.

To reach this vision and make it an actuallity, Colonel Manske's top priority is to "Accomplish the Mission ... Safely, professionally and efficiently."

While this is being fulfilled, the 100th ARW must continue to "Develop and care for our force and Team Mildenhall families." The force includes servicemembers and civilians, both American and British, and that has been established as priority number 2.

The third priority on the scope of wing leadership is to "Build partnerships and community relations." The wing must not forget that it is a guest of the host nation and maintaining good relationships with the local community is a must.

Over the next few months, each of these vast priorities will be broken down into particular objectives. Those objectives will gauge whether the wing mission is being successfully accomplished.

Continue to check www.mildenhall.af.mil for further updates.