CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nevada --
As Col. Case Cunningham, 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Michael Ditore, 432nd WG/432nd AEW command chief, settle into their positions as the wing leadership, they have a specific set of expectations for the members of Creech Air Force Base.
Starting with the wing's first priority of winning today's fight, Cunningham expressed this is the one Team Creech must not fail at.
"I believe that we are literally standing on the front lines of freedom for America and our coalition partners with the mission that we are doing every single day," Cunningham said. "That is the number one priority but the only way we can get that done is by taking care of our Airmen."
While taking care of the Airmen around the base is a top priority, ensuring Airmen are prepared for tomorrows fight and deliberately developing Airman are important parts of making the mission thrive.
"I always like to say we are the world's greatest Air Force, because we have the world's greatest Airmen," Ditore said. "Fighting today's fight, preparing for tomorrow, deliberately developing our Airmen and taking care of our Airmen all run hand in hand. The priorities will stay the same but the leadership continues to make sure our outstanding Airmen have the resources, training and tools they need to continue to do the amazing things they do every day."
When referring to Airmen the colonel said it is in the sense of the big 'A' Airmen, which includes the families.
"We can't do what we do without them," Cunningham said. "Something that the chief and I are interested in doing, and in every way possible, is enhancing the quality of life for our Airmen at Creech."
Ditore said he and Cunningham are genuinely interested in hearing from the Airmen across the base, no matter the Air Force Specialty Code, or role that they play in the mission, because everybody at the base has an important role. Members should know the expectations they have but also know that their leadership is listening and wants to hear ideas and what the needs are around base.
"It's important for people to know that we are listening," he said. "We are listening to what they want and need and looking at striving to take care of them.
At the beginning of July, Cunningham and Ditore sat down Airmen from around the base and asked them, "If you had a million dollars what they would do to make life better at Creech" and they addressed several issues.
"We are listening to our Airmen when they tell us what their needs and wants are and what would make life better for them here," the Chief said. "We hear so often that our Airmen have to travel to Nellis then back, so one of the initiatives we are working right now is to be able to do testing whether it is CLEP, promotions, foreign language testing, basically all military testing up here.
Expanding wireless capabilities is another change that is being looked at. Currently there is Wi-Fi at the dining facility and the Airman Ministry Center, but they are looking at expanding it fitness center so people can stream music while they are working out, and the coffee shop.
"We are also focusing on the dorm integrity initiative, which is to have a wing dorm program to make sure the dorms is clean, safe, and has all the amenities our Airmen need," Ditore said. "The shuttle is also a hot topic amongst everyone, as our Airmen are pretty much put on an immediate 12 hour shift because they are living at Nellis Air Force Base. We are definitely looking into options on transportation and making it better for them."
While it is important to talk about the challenges the base faces, Cunningham said it is also crucial to tell the story about the contributions the remotely piloted enterprise makes to the fight especially specific to Creech.
"We tell our story by talking about the amazing successes, and amazing impact our Airmen are making every single day in the fight across the globe, with the operational security consideration always in mind," Cunningham said. "We tell those stories so that folks looking from the outside in think to themselves, I would really like to be part of that team because they are accomplishing amazing things every day."
Beyond priorities and wanting to hear how members are being innovative, the leadership's expectations for each individual are simple and clear, respecting each other is an important part of the daily job.
"Have respect for each other," Cunningham said. "In the end it all comes down to the Airmen, and we are a family in the Air Force, and in order to execute our mission every single day we have to be a team. It's a disciplined family because it is a military organization, and respect is inherent in that. Our job is so critical to the defense of our nation, and security around the globe. We have to be experts and not accept anything less that excellence, in everything that we do."
Ditore said he wants members to think about how they would treat their mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers, and make that the standard for how they are handling their conduct here.
"We have an amazing esprit de corps and comradery here and we should continue to build those professional relationships," he said. "That is what I believe leadership and team work is all about. It is about is professional relationships where you get to know and learn from not only your Airmen but also your teammates and partners."
Additionally, Cunningham emphasizes how vital it is that all Airmen need to be good wingmen. He said it is crucial to get to know one another to make sure people know they have support and a source for strength when they are going through hard times.
"We are a family and we don't want to lose any member of that family," he said. "So being great wingmen and having those professional relationships, and being able to ask the difficult questions, 'You were looking a little bit down yesterday, what is going on at home?' It is a sign of strength to ask for help. We do it in our families , and it is important to do it as a team here. Encourage each other to ask for help. We have such great resources and great folks that are doing great work with our human performance team on that front."
Ditore said it is important to realize that nearly everyone on base, at one point or another has gone through a challenging time or struggled with an issue.
"We need to remember that we will get through difficult times together," he said. "I would expect our Airmen to take care of the family at home as well. We can't get so focused on what we have going on here, which is awesome and amazing, that we forget to take care of the family at home too. I can tell you that we feel the same, we would not be where we are today without our significant other, spouses, and families at home, and I know the rest of the base is the same, they are vital to what we do."
When it comes to the mission, Cunningham said he can't imagine a more amazing mission for a wing to have. Someone once told him "I love the fact that when I come through the front gates that I feel the mission".
"It is really powerful with what we do here," Cunningham said. "I love that about this wing and the fact that we are doing the mission every single day, which of course comes with challenges but it is pretty special."
Ditore said one of his favorite things is when he can get out during part of a day and walk around to see the amazing things the Airmen are doing on a daily basis.
"I often say what a privilege it is to wear this uniform and serve, and how less than one percent of our nation can say that and do so," Ditore said. "But when you think about it every person in the Air Force signed up to be part of something big and great and have an impact on the world. And when you walk around this base, I challenge anyone to tell me another installation or Air Force Base where Airmen are making a bigger global impact or that have more global reach on a daily basis. We came up here on July 4th and got to see our folks in action and the incredible things they do. So it doesn't matter what time of the year, or what day it is, we are making an impact all over the world."
Cunningham said the way the RPA enterprise employs airpower in today's fight and the difference the base is making is remarkable. He continued to say while we are making difference today, the future of the platform and the untapped potential is incredible.
"Honestly we have a lot of great, innovative folks in this wing who are thinking about those opportunities, and that is also an amazing part of this mission," he said. "I can walk down a hallway and see three or four doors with cockpits behind them. The airpower that is levied forth from that single spot is just so powerful to me."
Ditore said he finds the diversity and flexibility of the mission capability inspiring.
"You can use it for Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance, or going kinetic," he said. "You can see how our whole country is using it. Whether it is to help firefighters or to provide ISR to the mission, the variance is incredible. We have just barely cracked the surface on the capabilities that this platform brings."
With the daily contributions of the RPA community, and the growth of the platform and mission, Cunningham said it is important to share the story of the 432nd WG and its Airmen.
"What this platform means for the future of our Air Force is really limitless," Cunningham said. "I think you will find this is certainly one of the reasons why telling our story and being advocates is a part of our priority for the wing. The senior leaders of tomorrows Air Force will have RPA experience because it is such a powerful thing that we contribute to the fight."