Page 4 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt Oct. 2 2015

Oct. 2, 2015
4 www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb
A premier alliance: 425th Fighter Squadron
by Lt. Col.
JON FORINO
56th Operations Group
Aug. 9, 2015, marked the
50th Anniversary of Singa-
pore’s Independence. The 425th
Fighter Squadron is an op-
erational squadron comprised
of elite U.S. Air Force and
Lt. Col. Jon Forino Republic of Singapore air force
personnel designated by an agreement between the
U.S. and Republic of Singapore as PEACE CARVIN
II. December of 2013 marked the 20 year anniversary
of this partnership in excellence right here at Luke
Air Force Base.
As commander, it is a privilege to lead a unique
squadron of world class air force professionals. It is
the partnership, people, and pride of the 425th FS that of Defense. The PEACE CARVIN II Partnership has
make this unit stand out here at Luke and everywhere
they operate.
The partnership is one forged on trust and friendship
and years of experience working together. It extends
from operations, across maintenance, throughout the
56th Fighter Wing and into our local community.
:HDUHDQRSHUDWLRQDOÀJKWHUVTXDGURQIURP6LQJD- The 425th Fighter Squadron Republic of Singapore
pore, wearing Air Education & Training Command/56th
FW patches. We train for and go on multiple large-force
employment exercises every year to include Red Flag
Nellis and Alaska, Combat Archer, and Maple Flag in
Canada. Every two years the RSAF hosts an extremely
robust exercise right here at Luke, which yields tre-
mendous training for RSAF and many other Singapore
armed forces units from more than 9,000 miles away.
Additionally, our bond with our partners in the
Pacific extends well beyond Luke. Singapore has
a squadron of F-15SGs at Mountain Home AFB in
Idaho, a squadron of Apache helicopters right down the
road in Tucson, and a detachment of CH-47 Chinook
helicopters in Grand Prairie, Texas. They truly are a
world-class organization.
The people are simply amazing. They are dedicated
and a diverse culture working closely together yielding
prodigious success, yet are some of the most modest
Franks
,ɁȧɡǚƬǜƬÄǔʁƋʁŘǢūÄˁǜɁ“ȭǜƬʁǔɁʁʊ
ɍȳǣʕ*ˁǔƋǘ“ȭǜƬʁǔɁʁ*ƬnjɁʁƬūÄǢƬʁ
*ƬƬƋǒƋʁŘǢ“ȭǜƬʁǔɁʁ*ƬnjɁʁƬūÄǢƬʁ
Located on the Glendale Municipal Airport at Glendale Aero Services
ÀɁǜɁʁƋ˿ƋǚƬăƬŘǜʊƊɁǚnj,ŘʁǜăƬŘǜʊ
Fly in for a FREE estimate
ȴƶǮɍÂɁʁǜǒǚƬȭŒŘʁŽɁʁ*ǚ˸ƞƖƊǚƬȭƞŘǚƬƙÄŎ
ȴʹʯƖƶʕʹƖʯǮƶǮƊ˹˹˹ƖnjʁŘȭǘʊǔȭǜƬʁǔɁʁƖƋɁȧ
AZ 85374
COMMENTARY Thunderbolt
http://www.luke.af.mil
Put the “I” in Airman
folks you will meet. They take advantage of learning by Master Sgt.
from their U.S. Air Force counterparts in the 56th CHARLES
FW as undoubtedly we have learned from them. It is LOFTUS
humbling to see them do what they do week after week.
In short, they truly are world class. The Thunderbolt 56th Equipment
team and our local community are fortunate to host
this partnership. Maintenance Squadron
The pride we take in executing our mission to It is often spoken
“Provide high-end training for RSAF personnel while that each one of
benchmarking against the best in the world” is second us is important to
to none. For that I’d like to thank each and every our mission. It may
one of you here at Luke and beyond. We cannot do seem cliché when
our mission without you, and we thank you for your you hear it, but think about the impact of that statement.
continued support and professionalism.
I am one of many master sergeants on this base, and the
The RSAF is very proud of the accomplishments same can be said for any rank. So how is it that so much value
of their men and women serving so far from home, is placed on each of us? Why am I such an important piece of
which the RSAF chief of Air Force told me during my the mission that happens daily?
recent visit to the Republic of Singapore’s Ministry
, DP DQ $PHULFDQ $LUPDQ LV WKH ÀUVW SKUDVH RI RXU FUHHG
grown immensely over the past 20 years due to the WKDWXQLÀHVXVLQRXULQGLYLGXDOVSHFLDOWLHV,DPUHVSRQVLEOH
friendship and trust that has developed between our to each Airman to show up ready to perform and execute my
two nations, which are a direct result of the teamwork GXWLHVZLWKLQWHJULW\VHOÁHVVQHVVDQGH[FHOOHQFH,DOVRFDUU\
and daily interaction among RSAF and U.S. Air Force the same expectation for others. If one of us is not able to ex-
professionals, both military and civilian, here at Luke. HFXWHWKHQZHPXVWEHDEOHWRDGDSWÁH[DQGHQVXUHWKDWWKH
We should be proud of what we have accomplished to- mission is being met.
gether as a team, for it is that joint effort that ensures
the 425th FS remains “Feared Throughout the Land.” I am important to our team because I am effective. I am doing
my part in being a responsible, accountable and credible Air-
Senior Airman James Hensley man. If I am not, then my fellow Airmen must pick up where
I left off detracting from what they need to do, which creates a
potential for a weakness in the execution of our mission. Putting
$LU)RUFHWDLOÀDVKDW/XNH$LU)RUFH%DVH the “I” in Airman means that I must be disciplined.
I once heard a chief say this about discipline.
“There is self-discipline and imposed discipline and hav-
ing more self-discipline means that the potential for imposed
discipline is less likely. As an Airman, being self-disciplined
ensures that we are ready to show up and execute our duties
ZLWKLQWHJULW\VHOÁHVVQHVVDQGH[FHOOHQFHµ
Putting the “I” in Airman holds us accountable to each other
in the way we perform on or off duty. Having that discipline
ensures that each and every day, we are ready. It is not a cli-
ché when our individual importance is spoken of, because the
team depends on us. Putting the “I” in Airman means that as
individuals we are making smart responsible decisions that
enable us to come back to work fully capable to execute.
We care about tNO SURGERY NO DOWNTIME
your FAMILY’s
Beat the tape the smart way
vision!
with
LainrFgtaCehsosehEtllxiVeSotaceenltlnlieFeoscrynitav!i!moene
CALL
We Focus on Comprehensive Eye Exams and
Co-management of Cataracts and Glaucoma TODAY
FREE Anti-reflective coating with to set up
purchase of frames and lenses. your FREE
consultation
Some restrictions apply. Expires 08/31/15. & to learn
more about
Dr. Brian O. Baird our military
specials!
13945 W. Grand Ave. Ste. A10t4VSQSJTF
623-242-9910
623.931.2943
www.thevillageeyecare.com 14411 W. McDowell Rd.
Suite No. C-102
Follow Us On
Goodyear, AZ 85395
www.dejavumedspa.com