12th AF command chief visits America's Wing

Published April 23, 2010
By Brandice J. Armstrong
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Twelfth Air Force Command Chief Master Sgt. Harold Clark recently visited Tinker for the first time in 10 years. During a recent three-day trip, he visited 552nd Air Control Wing organizations and their Airmen.

Headquartered at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., the 12th Air Force, also known as Air Forces Southern, is an Air Combat Command numbered Air Force. Responsible for organizing, training and equipping, it is the Air Force component to U.S. Southern Command as a combatant command. The 12th Air Force is also responsible for Latin America and the Caribbean Basin Theater Security Cooperation among 32 nations.

Chief Clark stressed the importance of the resiliency concept -- an Air Force initiative that trains Airman to be "resilient" through difficult circumstances -- characteristics that define a strong non-commissioned officer and addressed force shaping and reduction-in-force concerns.

"The Air Force has been trying to get its hands around the deployment tempo and the operations tempo for several years and we have to assume it's not going to get better anytime soon, in terms of the amount of training we have to do and the amount of operational work we have to do," said Chief Clark. "So, we have to figure out different ways for our community to accept the constraints that come with that and adopt it into its own battle rhythm."

Through the resiliency concept, Airmen relearn Air Force principles including the wingman notion, suicide prevention and awareness and operational risk management.

The chief said if an Airman can adopt a lifestyle in which physical, mental, spiritual, professional and nourishment development are given a top priority, Airmen are more resilient and better able to "bounce back."

"The hardest thing I've ever had to do is go to memorial services; both for combat losses and for those who choose to take their lives," Chief Clark said. "It's quite hard to see young Airmen give their lives for their country, a noble event. We honor their sacrifice and grieve with and thank their families for their commitment and sacrifice.

"Next to those losses in combat both hostile and non-hostile it's an absolute tragedy when Airmen lose their lives to destructive behavior of any type," the chief said. "This behavior can manifest itself in many ways. The challenge is making sure that the rigors of military life intertwine with the goals of the individual member, the Air Force and our nation's demands for our service."

In addition to becoming more resilient, the chief said the Air Force wants Airmen who are selfless, decisive and compassionate. Those qualities make better leaders.

"There's a measure of understanding of what your folks go through every day," he said. "You have to do post checks. They have to see you at two o'clock in the morning. They have to see you and know that you care."

The chief said unfortunately there's a downside to having a team of remarkable Airmen; force shaping becomes a reality.

"We're into force shaping and force management because we've done too well at recruiting and retaining very bright members of our Air Force," Chief Clark said. "But, if we're given a choice between keeping someone who has never stepped outside of the lines and keeping someone who has, we'll choose the probability of success - the person who has never stepped outside the lines. Timing is everything and this is where the Air Force needs to shed 5,000 people."

Overall, the chief said he and his senior leadership, 12th Air Force commander Lt. Gen. Glenn Spears, are very proud of the 552nd ACW and their accomplishments.

"There are very few wings that I'm aware of serve as many as combatant commanders as the 552nd," Chief Clark said. "It should be a sense of pride to each and every one of them about the impact they and their air control capabilities have had in Iraq and Afghanistan or U.S. Air Forces Central. The sun never sets on a 552nd wing tail flash. They're all over the world."