COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Col. John Nichols, 14th Flying Training Wing Commander, hosted three all-calls focused on several topics for his final time as the base commander here June 21.
During the all-calls Nichols talked about things he felt were important to the base personnel of today and tomorrow, such as the 2016 Strategic Plan.
Nichols estimated about 60 percent of the audience as relatively new and had probably arrived within the last year. He explained the wing’s 2016 Strategic Plan as something for all wing Airmen to care about because its 14 pages discuss everything about the wing.
“It talks about our heritage, where we’ve been and our past, it talks about where we are and what our mission is now, how we are executing our mission, and where we are going in the future,” he said.
Nichols mentioned the plan also lays out the mission statement, commander’s priorities, and an outlook for the next 10 to 15 years and falls in line with the guidance of Lt. Gen. Darryl Roberson, Commander of Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas.
“Know your mission and your role in accomplishing it,” he said. “Produce Pilots, Advance Airmen and Feed the Fight. It is not just the flight suits [pilots] in this wing that are part of pilot production. It is everyone else sitting in this room making pilot production happen. Everyone contributes to that part of the mission.”
Nichols then spoke of making things better for the next person. He mentioned most personnel are here for one or two years while some have been here for around 20.
“If everyone makes something better while they are spending their tour at Columbus AFB, collectively, we are more powerful,” he said. “So take that as a charge, don’t walk past a problem, make it just a little bit better. For those that are new to this wing, you are coming here with a new lens; if you see something we are doing that seems silly, stupid, ask first and find out why we are doing it and be willing to bring a new idea.”
Nichols stated Airmen should treat everyone like wingmen and customers.
“We have customers in terms of we produce pilots for the U.S. Air Force and our allied partners,” he said. “When one of you deploys and we send you downrange on-time, trained and with the proper equipment, that combatant commander is a customer. We all have customers and being a Wingman means we take care of one another.”
Nichols proceeded to talk about the 81st Fighter Squadron and the A-29 mission.
“This will help them win the day for Afghanistan and hopefully the U.S. can get out of that fight,” he said. “Many in this room have been in that fight for a long time and we’re happy to get out of it. We are providing them the tools and the training they need to do the job for their country.”
Recently, the 14th Medical Group just went through the Joint Commission Survey and passed. Nichols highlighted the fact there were two inspectors with 45 years’ collective experience.
“They went through 1,300 line items and they had just a few small discrepancies,” he said. “That is absolutely incredible. These folks are career inspectors, they know what they are doing and they said this was the best Air Force clinic they’ve ever inspected in their careers. Absolutely fabulous.”
Moving on the Enlisted Professional Military Education policy, Nichols mentioned the bottom line of Airmen without the courseware completed were unable to reenlist and not be able to promote.
“Due to testing facilities [being limited] and not getting the word out, we had tens of thousands of Airmen not being able to be promoted or able to reenlist,” he said. “They postponed that heavy action to January 2017. The bottom line is you have to get your EPME done, you have to do it or it will have career implications.”
Nichols then spoke about base improvements such as road pavements on Perimeter Road, and highlighted the Community Commons that is set to be completed December 2016.
“We are taking the old library, we are making it one-third bigger, we are putting in a new e-library, testing center, tickets and travel, internet cafe, and study area,” he said. “This is going to be an awesome facility when it’s done. It will also be a drive thru coffee shop.”
Nichols then spoke about his initial leadership training for Green Dot and how important it was.
“It’s not just a bunch of [powerpoint] slides,” he said. “It attempts to provide each of us our own set of tools so we can intervene when you see sexual assault, domestic violence, child neglect, stalking, and all those negative things. It gives you real tools. We all have our own ways and Green Dot gives you the tools that work for you so you can smartly, and safely intervene.”
Lastly, Nichols talked about a recent AETC fatality and how being a Wingman is important and might have prevented the Airman’s death. His slides updated with the past DUI’s Columbus AFB has in the last four years and 2016.
“We have had zero DUIs in 2016,” he said. “That’s good work. I know there are a hundred saves every week. I know there are folks helping each other out and getting folks home safely and I want to say thank you. We’ve got a good track record here.”
Nichols concluded by saying goodbye to the base as a whole stating this is his last all call as the 14th FTW commander.
“Change is a constant in our Air Force but I know I’m going to miss a lot of people as they transition to other jobs and other steps in life,” he said. “I just want to say thanks for the opportunity to command the wing for the past two years. I’ve made connections with many folks in this room and it’s hard to leave.”
Nichols’ next assignment is in Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, as the deputy director for Global Strike Command.
“My family and I are blessed and pleased to go out there and do that, but it’s going to be hard to leave,” he said. “You spend a few years here and discover that this place is absolutely incredible. I want to thank you for the honor to serve and work with you.”