3rd Wing commander thanks Airmen for excellent performance Published March 16, 2012 By Luke Waack JBER Public Affairs JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Air Force Col. Dirk Smith, 3rd Wing commander, thanked his 2,200 Airmen publicly Thursday, during a "Commander's Call" at Hangar 1. The Pacific Air Forces Inspector General put the 3rd Wing through a Consolidated Unit Inspection, March 5-9, examining the inner workings of staff and systems. The 3rd Wing earned an "Excellent" rating, matching the grade earned in the 2010 Unit Compliance Inspection. The 3rd Wing is a community of excellence, always ready, according to Smith. "That's my challenge to you guys, is to keep being excellent," Smith said. Smith emphasized the 3rd Wing's mission; to generate and deploy aircraft, develop Airmen and take care of families. The commander encouraged his Airmen to do this through teamwork, communication and mutual support. Smith also congratulated his Airmen for having the best physical fitness scores in the Pacific Air Forces, earning excellence in the most recent Air Combat Command Logistics Compliance Assessment Program inspection, the 3rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron's 2011 Air Force level Maintenance Effectiveness Award, along with more than 20 other PACAF level individual awards for both operations and maintenance. Even amid all the success, there are problems and distractions, he continued. Fight through distractions and focus on the mission, Smith said. When it comes to personal problems, alcohol does not solve anything or reduce stress, the colonel reminded his Airmen. "Look out for one another, help your Wingmen avoid bad decisions," Smith said. It's up to supervisors to know their teams and identify when something is not right, Smith said. "Know your people and get them help when they need it," Smith said. Force shaping is a big topic in the Air Force right now, the commander said. Smith encouraged Airmen to seek personal development opportunities to be competitive, whether they stay in the Air Force or transition to civilian life. Smith turned the microphone over to Command Chief Steven Bohannon for a word on personal safety and responsibility. Bohannon cited the recent spike in sexually transmitted diseases in Alaska and encouraged Airmen to be smart and be safe. Bohannon announced an initiative, in coordination with the Professional Military Education Center, to identify Airmen with only one or two courses left to complete their Community College of the Air Force degrees. The 3rd Wing will have dedicated classes for those members to take courses and complete CCAF degrees. Bohannon also announced 2012 as "the Year of the Warrior" in the 3rd Wing and encouraged Airmen to be ready to deploy to combat, because there is no way to know when they'll be called upon. "We're going to build a warrior ethos in our Airmen," Bohannon said. Smith ended the commander's call with guidance for his Airmen. "Let's look ahead to what's on the horizon," Smith directed. The 3rd Wing is scheduled for an Operational Readiness Exercise in late May - phases one and two. Red Flag-Alaska 12-2 and 12-3 are scheduled to begin June 12 and Aug. 12, respectively. The Open House is scheduled for July 28-29. Transportation Command and NORAD missions continue at a steady beat, Smith said, and the 90th Fighter Squadron is scheduled to deploy. These missions will be more opportunities to practice excellence, Smith said. Couple that with the promise of an Alaska summer and the next few months will be busy and rewarding, Smith said.