COMMENTARY: Announcing RAF Mildenhall's new MVPs

  • Published
  • By Col. Kenneth T. Bibb Jr.
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing commander
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  As we roll out of the winter months into spring, I wanted to take a few moments to lay out my expectations for 2014.

Our wing has one of the most important missions in the Air Force - we are at the leading edge of protecting U.S. vital interests across Europe and Africa. To accomplish this mission, we have the most professional and motivated Airmen in the world. You are part of a winning team of dedicated professionals, among the best in the Air Force.

As good as this team is, we must always strive to get better. Every sortie requires some small course corrections and this mission is no different. I recently met with our wing senior leaders and took a fresh look at where we are now and where we are going. Here are the truths and aspirations that make up our mission and vision statements, along with the four priority areas I believe we should focus on to become our best.

100th Air Refueling Wing Mission:
Provide & Employ Global Air Refueling, Combat Support & Expeditionary Forces

100th Air Refueling Wing Vision:
The "Bloody Hundredth,"
The Best Wing in the USAF,
The Rapid Reaction Tanker Force,
Developing World-Class Professional Airmen;
Ready, Responsive & Refueling the Fight -
Strengthening Partnerships, Sustaining Our Legacy & Shaping the Future

100th Air Refueling Wing Priorities:
Mission - Accomplish the Mission Safely, Professionally & Efficiently
People - Develop & Care For Our Airmen & Team Mildenhall Families
Partners - Build Partnerships & Community Relations
Culture - Cultivate the Bloody Hundredth Culture

100th Air Refueling Wing slogan:
"The Square D Way - Innovative, Cooperative, Effective"

Our mission has changed substantially over the last decade. We not only provide world-class support to high priority missions from home station, but also must be able to quickly deploy to forward locations across Europe and Africa. We will continue to provide the best global air refueling, combat support and expeditionary forces to U.S. and international partners. We are one of the busiest wings in the Air Force and that will not change. We will continue to impress our teammates with our professionalism and ability to get the job done.

We updated our vision to include the rapid reaction nature of our job, the requirement to grow professional Airmen, and the need to build on our Square D legacy with our partners to shape the future.

Speaking of our Square D legacy, we added a fourth priority, culture, to our three existing priorities. We must honor those who came before us and sacrificed so much by conducting ourselves honorably and matching their level of resolve. In our current environment we must continue to grow a culture of innovation, a culture of safety and a culture of respect.

Our wing's slogan has not changed: "The Square D Way - Innovative, Cooperative, Effective." I expect that these three attributes, coupled with our dedication to our mission and priorities, will enable us to achieve our vision of being the very best at what we do.

Thank you for what you do every day as part of this incredible Square D team!