Murrie: We just need to keep doing what we're doing Published Feb. 11, 2008 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Col. Eden J. Murrie, 100th Air Refueling Wing commander, held several commander's calls last month to share her impressions of Team Mildenhall's performance during her first six months here. She also met with the staff of the Marauder Online to discuss mission, wing successes and what lies ahead in 2008. The following is part of that interview. Q. You've been here for six months now, what is your overall impression of the team's mission execution? A. I think it's great. They do a wonderful job; they have for years, and they continue to do so. They're recognized in (U.S. Air Forces in Europe) and by the Air Force, as not only performing our primary mission extremely well but for sending our folks downrange ready for whatever they face. Q. In your opinion, what thing specifically are we successfully doing? A. We do exactly what our mission says, and we do it really well, which is supplying combat air refueling power and critical combat support. And, when it comes to combat air refueling power, we not only provide it for USAFE, but we also provide it for Central Command and United States Transportation Command. In terms of critical combat support, we make sure folks are ready, not just the troops from the 100th, but from all of our partner units. We help them with their deployment issues and make sure they're ready to go downrange and do whatever they need to do too. So, I'd say that it's that we do our day-to-day mission, and we do it well. Q. In what areas do you feel we need to improve? A. I think we just need to keep doing what we're doing. There are always ways to improve and do things better, and our folks are constantly looking for those opportunities, but I wouldn't say there's some kind of goal out there. We've already got 98 percent air refueling effectiveness, and I'm sure everyone would like to get to 100. But I don't think the wing needs to necessarily improve as much as continue to excel Q. What are your biggest goals during the course of 2008? A. My goals are really set by the mission and the opportunities that the Air Force gives us to excel. We have a lot of big things coming up in 2008 - both aviation-related for the tankers, and base-related. So, to get through those with flying colors that would be my goal. We've got some transformation challenges, and folks know what they are: the merger of (100th Mission Support Squadron) and Services into the Force Support Squadron; the (100th Logistics Readiness Squadron) is moving out of (the 100th Mission Support Group) into what will now be called the Materiel Group. We have challenges resulting from reduction in personnel and resources overall Air Force wide. I guess my goal is to guide people as much as I can through that transformation and those opportunities that will evolve in 2008. Q. What obstacles do you foresee in achieving those goals, and how can we overcome them? A. Resources - that's always an obstacle. But there's no use talking about it; it affects everyone. We have to look at how we manage what resources we have, and how we can do things more effectively and more efficiently. That's where continuing our hugely successful AFSO21 initiatives will help us. Q. In 2007 the wing was able to maintain a 98 percent air refueling effectiveness rate, offloading 48 million pounds of fuel with 1,700 sorties - 57 percent of which were priority two and above. In your opinion, what is the number one contributing factor to that success rate? A. People. You can't do anything without people across the base. The KC-135 in the air refueling is our mission, but the pilot and boom, as critical as they are to performing that mission, are one part of the team that makes up this well oiled machine.. I've heard Gen. Snodgrass (Brig. Gen. Michael A. Snodgrass is chief of staff, U.S. Africa Command, Stuttgart, Germany.) say it, and I've used this phrase as my own now, but it takes a thousand skills to get an aircraft off the ground and that's what this base does. All the people here contribute to that sortie rate and that A/R effectiveness rate. Q. How do you feel the base is doing as far as Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, and what AFSO21 project do you see as being the most beneficial in performing the base mission? A. Mildenhall is great at AFSO21. USAFE uses RAF Mildenhall as an example, and the Air Force has used us as an example of how to use AFSO21 effectively. We have a group of folks right now in Grand Forks at an Air Mobility Command conference taking a look at sortie generation, taking what we've done and what other bases have done and tying that in to maybe making it an AMC standard. We have folks down at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., right now showcasing how we do sortie generation and schedule aircraft to try and help them out. We do AFSO21 really, really well, and the wing has put a lot of effort behind that - 2008 will be just another chance for that to continue. Q. When it comes to taking care of Airmen here, what do you consider to be the most important thing on which to focus? A. The most important thing is to make sure they have what they need to do their mission. But, equally important is ensuring good quality of life. They're going to be more comfortable with deploying and executing their primary mission - which is busy here - if they and their families also have good quality of life. Certainly those two are tied together. If you're leaving behind a family, either day to day or while you're deployed, you want to make sure they're taken care of. Q. What is your opinion of the relationship between the community and the base, and what types of things are we doing to foster those ties? A. I think we have a great relationship with our local community. It's kind of far reaching - up to Norwich, and through Cambridge. We work with Lakenheath too, maintaining that relationship. This base is phenomenal; this community is phenomenal, the partners and everyone involved and the amount of time they put in volunteering are, well, phenomenal!. In 2008 we've got the 27th year of Joan Mann Special Sports Day (Click here). The Airman and Family Readiness Center, along with our community relations adviser, Vicky Stayton, have set up a really good event with the (RAF Marham) deployed spouses group (Click here). We had Burns' Night (Click here) which we set up with the British-American Committee, and we have the Honorary Commanders program in May. We have a great relationship that I think will just continue. Q. Is there anything you would like to add? A. I think 2008 here at RAFM will be a great year. I'm really looking forward to it.