Being prepared takes hard work

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Todd Salzman
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Command Chief
Former Army Gen. George S. Patton once said, "A pint of sweat saves a gallon of blood."
I believe he meant it is better to sweat a ton while training hard for battle than it is to spill a single drop of blood during war. 

No truer words have been spoken, and they still ring true today as McConnell continues to train on a daily basis. 

Training is not only paramount to ensuring our successes overseas, but it is also vital if we are to react properly when faced with crisis right here at home. 
To do this, we conduct emergency management exercises - exposing our Airmen, civilian employees, contractors, family members and retirees to the rigors a local emergency entails. 

These exercises are stressful for everyone and often lead to confusion, anxiety and flared tempers - just as a real emergency would. 

To be truly effective we all must come together to ensure success. 
To do this, I suggest we think of the three "B's." 

-  Be patient. An exercise, like the real thing, must evolve, and that takes time.  

- Be vigilant. Keep your eyes open, and follow any and all directions received during both an exercise and a real emergency. 

-  Be courteous. Treat all Airmen and players with respect and dignity. If they tell you to do something, it's nothing personal; it's their orders from senior leadership. 

We fully understand how these exercises upset daily operations, but the cost is just too great for us not to train as we would act during a real emergency. 

Thanks for your cooperation and help as we work to maintain McConnell Air Force Base at its war-fighting tempo.