UCI will be an opportunity to shine

  • Published
  • By Col. Timothy Zadalis
  • 43rd Airlift Wing Commander
With the UCI beginning Monday, you will show the inspectors why Pope is the best in Air Mobility Command. As Gen. Duncan J. McNabb told us during his commander's call, Pope is a very special place, because no one does joint like us. With BRAC, successful GWOT deployments, presidential visits, and an "Excellent" ORI, we've had a lot on our plate.

And, Pope was named the 2005 Installation Excellence Award winner and a finalist for the 2006 award. What that shows me is that through an incredibly high in-garrison and deployed operations tempo, there is no challenge you have not met and overcome.

There is nothing that Team Pope can't accomplish, and not only do I know that but General McNabb, Maj. Gen. James Hawkins and the entire AMC leadership know it also. You have been preparing for months, going over your checklists, perfecting your continuity books and participating in numerous exercises. You are willing, able and ready.

During the inspection, we will have an emergency management exercise to test our ability to quickly and effectively respond to a real-world event. There will be delays during that time, and we will take all the protective measures we would in a real contingency. There may be times when you will have to evacuate your work center. I expect all officers and senior NCOs to lead. Everyone should respond to all exercise inputs as if they were real-world.

Next, I would like to thank the 43rd Civil Engineer and Communications Squadrons for the outstanding refurbishment and of the alternate Battle Staff. We have some tremendous professionals in those squadrons, and they surpassed my expectations.
I would like to welcome Brig. Gen. Donald Lustig, AMC Inspector General. I also want to welcome the Health Services Inspection Team that will be inspecting our 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron warriors, and the Logistics Standardization and Evaluation Program Team that will be inspecting our fantastic 43rd Maintenance Group as well.

I am very proud of all of you. Keep up the great work, and show every inspector what Pope Pride really means.

Be SAFE and ALWAYS be there for your WINGMAN.