'If your hands are in the air!'

  • Published
  • By Maj. Jason Harris
  • 22nd Security Forces Squadron commander
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  "We put em' there! Hooah!"

I don't usually brag, but since this is my last commentary here at McConnell, I figured ... why not?

The Defenders of the 22nd Security Forces Squadron have accomplished a lot in a very short period of time, but I will just list a few: executed Air Mobility Command's first shoot, move and communicate course, placed 6th out of 28 international teams at AMC's Rodeo competition, managed the first in AMC DBIDS 4.0 installation and subsequently benchmarked several processes, awarded two superior performers during AMC's first Chemical Weapons Convention, helped earn "excellent" rating for ability to survive and operate training and C2 during the 2011 Operational Readiness Inspection, was the 22nd Mission Support Group's Air Force Association's Verne Orr award nominee and processed over 200 performance reports, 100 percent on time.

The Defenders accomplished all this despite working 14 hour shifts due to heavy deployment rotations.

How did they do it? I would offer that it was teamwork - not only within the SFS - but within the entire 22nd Air Refueling Wing. As each obstacle was presented, Airmen across the wing found a way to work together, support each other and get the mission accomplished. Not only do we as McConnell Airman get it done ... we set the standard!

I want to thank the Defender Airmen for all their hard work and effort they put in every day and for being "Always Ready." I am honored and proud to be given the opportunity to be the commander and lead an awesome team of Defenders.

As a mentor once told me, "leading is easy when you have a great team!" That's why it is not a surprise that the 22nd SFS was named Best Medium Security Forces Squadron in Air Mobility Command for 2011!