3rd AF commander emphasizes competence, care, character to 435th AGOW

by Senior Airman Holly Mansfield
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

10/7/2014 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany  -- Lt. Gen. Darryl Roberson, 3rd Air Force and 17th Expeditionary Air Force commander, toured units of the 435th Air Ground
Operations Wing here, Sept. 30.

Roberson spoke to company grade officers from the 435th AGOW about how they directly affect the mission of the Airmen they supervise.

"If you lead your Airmen with competence, care and character, you will gain their trust," said Roberson. "Once you gain their trust, those Airmen will
be willing to follow you through fire to get the mission done."

Roberson went on to say how 435th AGOW Airmen are improving and innovating their daily operations to complete their five mission sets of ; deploying
expeditionary airfields on demand; integrating air and space power into the joint fight; providing joint, multi-theater operational support and sustainment; providing premier specialty training and ; building partnership capacity.

Roberson was able to experience firsthand how Airmen accomplish their five mission sets by not only simulating as a victim during an emergency rescue from on top of a 1st Communications Maintenance Squadron communication tower but also seeing equipment used by members of the 2nd Air Support Operations Squadron.

For Col. Joseph McFall, 435th AGOW commander, showing how versatile and strong the Airmen of the 435th AGOW are gives Roberson a better perspective of the multi-faceted mission of the wing.

"This is a hugely diverse wing that brings several special capabilities to the table," said McFall. "In many cases, our Airmen and equipment deploy in support of 3rd Air Force priority missions.  Showing our boss what those capabilities are, in detail, and how they can be better postured in the future, arms him with the knowledge he needs to meet the needs of two combatant commanders."

The 435th AGOW Airmen have improved their work flow by enhancing processes and getting rid of unneeded equipment along with completing mission requirements.

"Every day, 435th AGOW Airmen are deployed around the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa area of responsibility," said McFall. "If there is an exercise, operation or training deployment involving the command, there is almost certainly some part of the 435th AGOW involved.  We here in the wing truly feel we are the backbone of 'Forward, Ready, Now!'"

Roberson left the 435th AGOW challenging the Airmen to be innovators and to lead their peers with competence, care and character to help build a stronger Air Force.