Are you ready for a repeat? Published Sept. 22, 2006 By Capt. Khalid J. Cannon 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs POPE AFB, N.C. -- Team Pope has another opportunity to compete as a finalist for the Commander in Chief Installation Excellence Award, which Pope won for the command in 2005. "We are one of the three Air Mobility Command finalists and we have the opportunity to repeat, an accomplishment that is unprecedented," said Col. Timothy Zadalis, 43rd Airlift Wing commander. "We have amazing people doing amazing things, and the inspection team will see that. Even though our base will be realigning under BRAC, there will always be an Air Force presence at Pope and our installation will continue to make a difference every day," Colonel Zadalis said. Pope leadership was informed on Monday that the installation was being considered for the award, and selected IEA veteran Lt. Col. Rausch, deputy Mission Support Group commander, to serve as the project officer. "After having the opportunity to be involved with last year's win, I'm excited about the chance to again showcase what makes our base the best in AMC, " said Colonel Rausch. "It's a total team effort. Whether it is preparing color story boards, preparing briefings, finalizing the team's itinerary, coordinating with Fort Bragg and civic leaders and making sure the base looks its very best, this process requires the excellence and pride that represents Pope," he said. The team will arrive at Pope on Monday and will have an opportunity to meet with members of Pope, Fort Bragg and civic leaders from Fayetteville, Spring Lake and Hope Mills. The delegation will spend Tuesday traveling around the base receiving briefings from units in each of the wing's five groups, speaking with members of the 18th Air Support Operations Group and other warfighting partners, learning more about the installation's missions and viewing numerous facilities. The day will end with a retreat ceremony at the wing headquarters building. The 43rd Civil Engineer Squadron is charged with making sure the base looks its best. "CE is not only responsible for the base infrastructure and maintaining facilities, but it also falls upon us to ensure the base looks good and we, here in CE pride ourselves in maintaining a neat, orderly looking base. It's the whole first impression that will help set Team Pope apart in the eyes of the AMC inspectors," said Maj. Erik Lagerquist, commander. Capt. Jennifer Kuhns, 43rd Airlift Wing, and the entire Protocol office will be preparing for the team's icebreaker Monday evening and making sure the delegation has everything they need during their time at Pope. "Having the AMC team come back is a tremendous honor," said Captain Kuhns. "Many people may think that the BRAC realignment means we can't win again, but the mission done here by the most motivated team on the planet just proves what a great investment Team Pope really is." The IEA team is made up of officers representing various staff directorates within Air Mobility Command, including Cols. Jon Roop, team chief from Installations and Mission Support; Martin Sayles, deputy Manpower and Personnel commander; Steve Brunhaver, Air Space and Information Operations; John Meek, Logistics; and Samuel Douglas, Communications. The other finalists are Dover AFB, Del. and Charleston AFB, S.C. "Pope being selected as a finalist is a testament to the people who make the mission happen everyday. Our people are the difference and the base populace deserves to win again," said Col. John McDonald, 43rd Airlift Wing vice commander.