HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- The 49th Wing commander spoke to the Airmen of Holloman during his first commander’s call here on September 29.
Colonel Houston Cantwell assumed command of Holloman on July 15, 2016. During this time, he has paid close attention to the functions of the base and the Airmen who keep it running.
He shared his first impressions with the Airmen attending the commander’s call.
“This has been an unbelievable two months,” said Cantwell. “We have some very talented Airmen working here at Holloman doing every mission possible. It has been truly remarkable getting to know so many Airmen in such a short amount of time.”
Cantwell also offered some life advice for his Airmen. He compared life to a three legged stool, since it’s the only kind stool that would fall over if one of the legs were removed.
“We work hard, and we play hard,” said Cantwell. But for long-term success, I need you all to think about what it takes to have a balanced three legged stool.”
Work, family and self-preservation are the three main attributes Cantwell emphasized.
“Number one, going to work. How much is that a part of your life?” said Cantwell. “Number two, family, we’ve got to take care of our families. Number three, that’s yourself. You are an important part of the three legged stool. If you do not take care of yourself and your own personal needs, then that’s when bad things start to happen.”
Cantwell encouraged all Airmen to reflect on themselves to ensure they are set up for happiness in life.
“I encourage you all to take an honest self-assessment and think about what it is you need to be happy in the long run,” he said. “I want you guys to realize that life is a marathon not a sprint.”
Cantwell also spoke about the importance of the Remotely Piloted Aircraft programs and how Holloman is an important asset.
“The RPA enterprise is larger than it’s ever been,” he said. “It will continue to grow, and it is an unbelievable force to be reckoned with for our national security.”
There are two main RPA hubs -- Creech AFB and Holloman AFB.
“We [Air Force] fly aircraft over other nations every day,” he said. “There are two pillars to this enterprise. One is Creech AFB. They fly a predominance of combat aircraft. We are the training pillar. This enterprise falls apart without Holloman AFB.”
Cantwell spoke about the significance of Holloman Airmen understanding the importance of their mission.
“I want each and every person to be proud of what they do to contribute to that enterprise,” he said.
The commander also addressed Holloman’s role of training future pilots in modern aircraft.
“Every day, it’s making the newspapers, and it’s making a difference for our national security,” he said.