Passing off the 'Torch': Farewell to the 35 FW

  • Published
  • By Col. Stephen C. Williams
  • 35 Fighter Wing Commander
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  As my time as the commander of the 35th Fighter Wing comes to a close, there are endless memories over the past two years I could talk about. But nothing I say would mean as much as these two words: Thank you.

Thank you for taking this journey with Holly and me, thank you for supporting us and most importantly, thank you for the selfless sacrifices you've made to make this wing successful.

As many of you know, this was Holly and my second tour to Misawa. When we were given the opportunity to return it truly felt like a homecoming. We knew the lay of the land and the quality of the people.

During the first two months I focused on seeing where we stood as a wing so we could work to make things better for the present and tee things up for a brighter future. Along the way there were definitely some challenges. Right off the bat you worked your tails off to make ends meet on our end-of-year flying hour program, managing the end of the fiscal year and working through a consolidated unit inspection.

Events like that -- when people come together for a cause bigger than themselves -- is what makes this place great. What makes an assignment special comes down to one thing - the people. It's the people you work with and the people you live around. More than anything else, we will miss the relationships we have built with the great people of Misawa.

There's a demographic here that's one of a kind, and that's due in large part because of the relationship we share with this great community. The Japanese see us as members of their community. They're phenomenal hosts and openly share with us a mutual respect for both our cultures. It didn't happen overnight; it developed over a long, long time and was driven by folks who devoted endless effort into the local community.

It was that kind of effort that also powered us to make huge strides for our Airmen as we tackled quality of life issues, including upgraded internet, traveling with confidence, providing an on-base ski hill to enjoy our famous Misawa snowfalls, and finally, air conditioning. Many of you who have spent more than a year here know just how miserable those hot, sleepless nights can be.

There's no way I can take sole credit for these things; I can only be proud to have put some passion into these things and watch our motivated Airmen carry out the wing's priorities.

These motivated people also worked tirelessly to allow us to celebrate significant events such as American Day, Japan Day and - even though we battled unlucky weather both years that kept us grounded - our annual Air Fests. I'll never forget how hard we fought during sequestration to get an air festival, and that to me speaks volumes of our dedication to this community.

When we were flying, we did it at the highest level. As the only Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses wing in Pacific Air Forces, our operations were and continue to be second to none. We made huge and historical strides as a team, starting with the integration of our host Japanese forces with large force employment exercises and dozens of bilateral flying missions. We're fortunate to be able to work with Japan and protect our allies in the Pacific.

We also made landmark moves in mission readiness with the arrival of the Joint Deployable Electronic Warfare Range and gaining access to the Gaicho airspace, both of which have exponentially expanded our capability in combat training. These advancements will make us much more effective in combat and carrying out our Wild Weasel mission.

For all the ups we had, there were also times our resiliency was tested. As a community we shared each tragic fatality and they took their toll on our resiliency. Saying goodbye to wonderful Airmen much too soon was the most difficult part of sitting in this chair - they will not be forgotten.

The way we came together as a wing and the way we picked each other up was so inspirational. It's an attitude we've embraced and established here at Misawa, and it was as strong as ever when we stared adversity in the face during sequestration, furloughs and force management. When I look at the feedback and assessments and see that our morale, pride and cohesion actually increased during these demanding times, I know I'm serving alongside people of the highest quality.

Your selfless service every single day is impressive to see. The work of each and every one of you has motivated me to get up in the morning and to do the job. I know you'll give Colonel Sundvall and Laura the same support you gave Holly and me. It's been an honor to serve alongside you, and the best way I can wrap up these past two years is by using two words: Thank you.