Commander's Call emphasizes things every Airman should know

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Sondra Escutia
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The 49th Wing commander, Col. David Krumm, held three Commander's Calls, April 15, in preparation for the Operational Readiness Inspection.

Nearly every Holloman Airman attended one of the three mass gatherings in which Colonel Krumm commented on the intense improvements Team Holloman has made in the past 10 months and the top eight things every Airman should know.

"The reason I asked you here is because the time is here. The time is now. What we've been working toward over the past 10 months comes to fruition in a little over a week," said the commander. "I wanted to talk to you guys about where we came from and where we are now."

Colonel Krumm said scores across the wing -- to include operational security, information operations, employment readiness and deployment processing -- have increased exponentially since the base began preparing months ago.

"To say that I'm proud is the biggest understatement of what you've done and now it's time we bring it all together," he said. "We've got the processes down. We've got the procedures down. We're trained. Everything is in place, and now's the time to execute."

With that, he introduced Lt. Col. Ted Lewis, 49th Mission Support Group deputy commander, who briefed the eight things every Airman should know.

1. Know what an ORI is and why we do it.

"An ORI demonstrates a quick transition from peacetime to wartime when our nation calls," said Colonel Lewis. "It means the combatant commander overseas is counting on you and our iron to be in a certain place, at a certain time, to show force, to demonstrate resolve and they are counting on us to be there."

2. Know where you fit in.

"You've been trained for the past 10 months. You know your job," he said. "Ten months ago, our processes were bad and we had good Airmen. Now our processes are good and we've got great Airmen."

3. Know the grading system.

Colonel Lewis explained there are five graded areas and some areas weigh more on the overall grade than others. There are also areas within each one of those five that drive the grade. He said it is important that everyone know where they fit in.

4. Know the Force Protection Condition procedures.

"Why are we in an increased FPCON? What's driving it? What's the 'be on the lookout'? Those are really important pieces ... not just to know we're in FPCON Charlie, but why we're in FPCON Charlie. If you don't know it, your Unit Control Center does," he said, adding that complying with FPCON procedures with haste is equally important.

5. Know Information Operations.

"The first thing to pop up on your computer when you log in is our [Information Conditions].This is a question they might ask. They may ask who your Information Assurance Officer is. You may receive an inject saying you've received a virus, what do you do?"

6. Know the ABCS: Attitude, the Basics, Communication and Safety.

"If we are in between the grey area, make no mistake, the Inspector General will notice our attitude and it could bump us up or it could bump us down," said Colonel Lewis on the importance attitude will play.

Knowing the basics means paying attention to detail and it will be imperative, he said. Communication and safety are both just as important.

7. Know the timeline.

"We all have a lot of stuff going on. It's important to know what is happening and when it is happening," said the colonel.

8. Know the ORI acronyms.

"There are a lot of them, and it's important you understand them," said Colonel Lewis. "Every one of them will be used."

Airmen should consult their supervision for more specific details into each of these eight things, said Colonel Lewis before handing the floor back over to Colonel Krumm, who ended the Commander's Call with his final thoughts.

"When the IGs roll in on Monday, the week of the 25th, we will be ready to show them. They haven't seen what Holloman Air Force Base can do," said Colonel Krumm. "Be on your game, bring it strong. You have all proven that you are one team, combat ready."