18th Wing commander holds first calls

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amanda Savannah
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  The 18th Wing commander explained his and the wing's mission, priorities and policies to Airmen here during commander's calls July 5, 7 and 8 in the Keystone Theater.

The official briefings were the first for Brig. Gen. Matt Molloy, who took command of the wing June 3.

The general started the calls by discussing the mission for the wing's Airmen as Air Force Airmen as well as Airmen of the 18th Wing.

"You are Airmen; your mission is to fly, fight and win in the air, space and cyberspace," he said. "We do that here off a forward power projection platform. You are the Keystone of the Pacific, and off this power projection platform, comes unbridled, unrivaled, and unmatched combat air power for America. We do this in agreement with the Japanese government ... where we mutually pledged our support for regional interests here. That bilateral contract here is very important."

He then explained that his priorities as a commander are about the mission first, but people always.

"My priorities as your commander are really quite simple," Molloy said. "It's about the mission; mission first. But I also know as your commander ... people make the mission happen. Air power is really about Airman power. Airman power makes it happen. As your commander, if I focus on the people part, then you guys take care of the mission."

The 18th Wing also has its priorities of fight tonight, win tomorrow; build a culture of conspicuous compliance; and normalize operations in an un-normal world, which the wing commander also explained.

Molloy also discussed the wing's policies and standards.

"I'll start with you being ambassadors," he said. "You are actually strategic Airmen, and what I mean by strategic Airmen is ... you, outside our fence line, and your children outside our fence line ... your actions can have strategic consequences, both good and bad. Every misstep outside the fence can ripple not only up to 5th Air Force and PACAF [Pacific Air Forces], but right over to Washington, D.C. to the Secretary of Defense and even the halls and walls of Congress. So you have to be so very careful of what you do.

"On the flip side, when we have a wing that has three Airmen for every one Special Olympian at Special Olympics time, my does that go a long way in building a relationship with the people of our host nation, a partnership and a brotherhood here in the region. So get out there and engage, just do it in a positive way," he added.

Other wing policies and standards discussed were regarding drinking and driving, drug use, crimes versus mistakes, the wingman policy, operational risk management on and off duty, a professional and equal work environment and the Inspector General system.

Chief Master Sgt. James Davis, 18th Wing command chief, also spoke during the calls.

"Thank you for all you've done," he said. "Every day across this base we have men and women who execute the mission."

Davis reiterated the commander's comments on the wing's policy of conspicuous compliance, meaning being clear and visible.

"As we're out and about, there are three things I need from you," the chief said. "Ask yourself three questions - 'What are we doing right?,' 'What are we doing wrong?,' and 'How can we fix it?,' -- because the success of this wing and the success of this base rests on you."

Molloy then gave the Airmen a glimpse into himself as he spoke about his family and his personal Air Force beginnings before closing the briefings.

"I have three 'Fs' in my life," he said. "My faith is No. 1, my family is No. 2 and the flag I serve is No. 3. I spend a lot of time on No. 3 it seems like, but I remember when I'm doing that service, it's sacrificial. It's that flag that envelops my kids in freedom, religious freedom, and that they can freely choose to do what it is they want and they can be all they can in America."