A 'Four-Star' Visit Hosted by a 'First Class' Team

  • Published
  • By Brig. Gen. Nina Armagno
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  What a thrill it was to be able to host General John E. Hyten, Commander, Air Force Space Command, his wife, Laura, and Chief Master Sgt. Douglas McIntyre, the AFSPC Command Chief, to "Team Patrick-Cape" earlier this week as we prepared for the GPS IIF-10 launch mission.

From a breakfast with a wide variety of civilian, enlisted and commissioned Airmen, to a stop at the Airmen Leadership School, to witnessing a demonstration by our Honor Guard, to a behind-the-scenes look at the 45th Medical Group's Satellite Pharmacy and visits with members of the 45th Civil Engineer and Security Forces Airmen, Tuesday was a day several young Airmen - and one 45th Space Wing Commander - will remember for a long, long time.

Wednesday was spectacular as General Hyten and his wife were able to visit the Morrell Operations Center and several other facilities at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station with plans to watch the launch from the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center.

But for me, other than the launch itself, was the time we got to listen to, talk with, and interact with General Hyten at our LOUD and PROUD "All Call" held in our packed Base Theater.

Almost immediately, General Hyten got right to talking about his three priorities,  (1) Win today's fight, (2) Prepare for tomorrow's fight and (3) Take care of Airmen and families.

He talked about how the Air Force has virtually been involved in combat for the past quarter century, and how the pressure and stressors we sometimes place on our people (The "Big A") can really wear on a person's attitude both at work and in their home environments.

Even though our deployment numbers are down somewhat from where they were before, I was glad General Hyten stressed that it's our "sacred responsibility" to take care of our deployed Airmen's family members.

Here at the 45th Space Wing, we have continued to carry on the "Deployed Spouses Dinners" held monthly, and our Key Spouse Program and Airman & Family Readiness Center team continues to offer helping hands to any deployed family member who needs it.

As I wind down what has been the unquestionable highlight of my military career, I ask that you take heart to the sincerity of what General Hyten had to say and what we have been saying forever around here about being good Wingmen and teammates.

As the old saying goes, "teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results."

Stay Focused Sharks!

 

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