916th Command Post wins at AFRC, shares knowledge

  • Published
  • By Maj. Erin Karl
  • 916th Public Affairs Office
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  For four of the last eight years, the 916th Air Refueling Wing Command Post has been recognized as the best large command post in Air Force Reserve Command. The blended command post, staffed by both 916th reservists and 911th active duty Airmen, also earned the highest rating possible at the 2012 unit compliance inspection (the only organization to do so).

With such an exceptional track record, Senior Master Sgt. James Loper was asked about what made the wing command post so good. Loper just became the 916th Command Chief, but has been the superintendent of the command post for the last five years.

Q: What do you think is the biggest contributing factor to your repeat win?

A: The mission of the wing pushes our controllers to maintain the highest standards of training and readiness. They take that zero failure attitude and apply it to everything they do.

Q: What makes the 916th command post so stellar?

A: Without question it's the Airmen! The command post is just a building, without the controllers and their commitment to excellence we fail.

Q: What can other 916th units learn from the command post's successes?

A: Teamwork! They understand that if they don't pull their weight then someone else has to. That keeps them working together.

Q: What exceptional thing added to this year's award package?

A: Over the past year Air Force Reserve Command asked many of our controllers to go to other units like ours at March ARB, Calif., Andrews AFB, Va., Tinker AFB, Okla., and Scott AFB, Il., to install our programs and share best practices. I think the willingness to share what we have done here with other command posts helped us this year. Also, receiving the highest rating and a superior team award during the inspection didn't hurt.