57th Wing leadership, spouses gather to promote teamwork Published Dec. 17, 2008 By Airman 1st Class Nellis AFB Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Forty-three commanders, chiefs and 27 of their spouses from the 57th Wing attended a leadership conference Dec. 15 at the Weapons School here. Brig. Gen. Russ Handy, the 57th Wing commander, and his wife, JoAnn Handy, organized the 57th Wing Commander's Conference to gather the leadership and their spouses to promote teamwork and show how each squadron works together as one in accomplishing the wing's mission. The first portion of the conference focused on the roles of the commander and their spouses in motivating and building their unit community. "One of the goals of inviting our spouses was to emphasize the importance of their contribution in caring for our Airmen, whether it's simply moral support to Airmen or volunteering extensively in the community- their efforts are greatly appreciated," said Brig. Gen. Handy. "As the wing leadership, we should be the ones taking an active stand in making sure our expeditionary Airmen are taken care of." "I'm privileged to have the leadership's spouses here with us," said Brig Gen. Handy. "They took time out of their busy schedules to share the day with us and see how their contribution supports the 57th Wing team." As part of the conference, attendees visited four events that demonstrated Airmen readiness in today's Air Force . The first demonstration was a combat search and rescue mission. During this demo the 34th Weapons School Squadron and the 66th Rescue Squadron worked together to simulate a pilot being rescued after being shot down in an urban environment. The pilot evaded the enemy and reached the roof of a small tower where he was extracted by an HH-60 helicopter. The coordination and teamwork showed how the two squadrons work together in a combat environment to save lives. The second event was a visit to the 57th Equipment Maintenance Squadron Munitions Flight to see how bombs are built for war time or for use in RED FLAG exercises. RED FLAG is a joint-force and multinational exercise that simulates an aircrew's first 10 combat missions. The Munitions Flight showcased their role in operations and how their focus is on ensuring every aircraft is properly equipped and ready for each mission. The last two stops of the conference concentrated on the training and preparation of Airmen for deployment. The 99th Security Forces Combat Arms section showed the commanders, chiefs and spouses the training each Airman receives in handling a weapon before being deployed. This training helps to ensure Airmen are well prepared to deal with any situation. Finally, the role of the Joint Terminal Attack Controllers and Air Liaison Officers and how they support ground forces during close-in fighting was shown at the of the Joint Terminal Attack Controller simulator. Conference attendees learned how Airmen at Nellis are able to jointly accomplish tactical exercises in conjunction with JTACs in different locations around the country. The conference was able to bring the leadership and spouses together and show them that teamwork incorporating all facets of the 57th Wing results in the Wing achieving its mission to train, fight and win. "The conference was very successful," said General Handy. "The dedication of the 57th Wing leaders and their spouses is impressive and their concern for the wellbeing of their Airmen and the Air Force mission is extensive."
