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Visit provides 4th AF with Airmen's perspective

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Ben Mota
  • 434th ARW Public Affairs
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. --  Taking a new approach to oversight, one 4th Air Force leader got an up-close and personal perspective behind the mechanics that make Grissom a unique and valuable asset.

Col Mark Pantone, 4th Air Force director of logistics and instillations, visited 434th Air Refueling Wing Airmen during the August unit training assembly with the purpose of speaking to Grissom personnel, hearing their issues and identifying opportunities and challenges affecting the wing.

"The primary purpose for visiting Grissom is to understand what the issues of the wing are, and there is no better way to do that other than visiting the wing and speaking to Airmen," said Pantone. "One of the primary missions of 4th AF is to advocate for the wings, and we cannot effectively advocate for them if we do not know what the issues are they are facing."

Pantone lauded Grissom's maintenance squadron as a prime example of excellence across the Air Force Reserve Command.

"The maintenance side, they have always led the command in the tanker world on how well they care for their jets," said Pantone. "The other areas of the wing are the same way; they are very dedicated and very squared away."

In addition to expressing the value of the 434th Maintenance Group, Pantone also made it clear of the importance of Grissom all together.

"Grissom is huge; it has one of the largest fleets of KC-135s in the Reserve Command, and so Grissom plays a huge role, not only for its centrally located geographic location in the United States, but also for the number of jets it can provide," he said. "The aircraft availability at Grissom is always high, so we can count on Grissom to provide the number of KC-135s that might be required by the Air Force at any given time."

One unique aspect of the colonel's visit was that he had not been here since 2010, he said.

"One of the reasons we have not been here in so long is because we know Grissom is a healthy base with very dedicated people who know what they are doing," added Pantone. "The 434th is a great wing; they have a great culture, they have great facilities and they have great people."

Throughout the colonel's two-day visit he expressed the importance of mentoring new Airmen and passing down knowledge to fill a critical manning gap in the Air Force.
"Right now the Air Force has a lot of new Airmen and a lot of older Airmen, but what is lacking is the gap of people in between," Pantone said. "There is a lot of empty space in the middle, and we need the younger Airmen to be ready, willing and able to fill in the gap as the older generation of Airmen begins to retire."

While visiting the base Pantone provided advice to help Airmen get ready for their future so they can fill the critical gap of personnel the Air Force must sustain to continue its mission.

"Do the job you are doing today the best that you can," said Pantone. "Don't worry about the future; don't worry about the things that can't be changed, but instead focus on the things that matter, getting upgraded, getting professional education, and doing your job to the best of your ability while absorbing the knowledge of senior leadership."

The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Airmen from the 434th ARW routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission and U.S. strategic objectives.

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Public Affairs Staff

Material contained on the Official Grissom Air Reserve Base Internet Web Site is written and produced by members of the 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office. The award-winning staff includes:

Ben Mota
Chief, public affairs

Maj. Elias Zani
Public affairs officer

Master Sgt. Wendy Day
Staff writer

Tech. Sgt. Alexa Culbert
Staff writer

Senior Airman Elise Faurote
Staff writer

Senior Airman Benjamin Cowles
Staff writer