PACAF CCC receives first-hand look at Andersen AFB mission

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - Pacific Air Forces Command Chief Master Sgt. Brooke McLean listens as Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Collins, 36th Mission Support Group superintendent, discusses future renovation plans for the Youth Center during a site visit here on November 10. This is Chief McLean's first visit to Andersen since being named command chief of PACAF. (U.S. photo by Airman 1st Class Julian North)

PACAF CCC receives first-hand look at Andersen AFB mission

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - Staff Sgt. Brandon Allen, 644th Combat Communications Squadron, explains the capabilities and the essential communications equipment used during the bed down of a base to PACAF Command Chief Master Sgt. Brooke McLean during his visit here Nov. 9-10. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson)

PACAF CCC receives first-hand look at Andersen AFB mission

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - Pacific Air Forces Command Chief Master Sgt. Brooke McLean speaks to Airmen of the 36th Munitions Squadron during his site visit here Nov. 10.This is Chief McLean's first visit to Guam as PACAF's command chief. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson)

PACAF CCC receives first-hand look at Andersen AFB mission

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - Staff Sgt. Craig Willits, 736th Security Forces Squadron, explains the weapons and simunitions used by the students attending the Pacific Regional Training Center's Commando Warrior pre-deployment training course to Pacific Air Forces Command Chief Brooke McLean here Nov. 10 during a site visit. This is Chief McLean's first visit to Andersen AFB as PACAF command chief. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson)

PACAF CCC receives first-hand look at Andersen AFB mission

Published Nov. 12, 2009
By Senior Airman Shane Dunaway
36th Wing Public Affairs

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Pacific Air Forces Command Chief Master Sgt. Brooke McLean paid a visit to the Airmen of the 36th Wing Nov. 9-10, his first trip to Andersen AFB since assuming PACAF's top enlisted position in October.

The two-day visit was a prime opportunity for the chief to immerse himself in the broad mission capabilities the 36th Wing brings to the fight and to showcase the wing's ability to care for its Airmen and families.

"Andersen is a big puzzle to piece together and a big leadership challenge," Chief McLean said. "The wing commander, group commanders and the deployed commanders along with their enlisted leadership do a good job of giving everybody the same focus, making sure everybody understands where they tie into that mission. This base is a huge piece of the presence of Pacific Air Forces and our ability to cover the area of responsibility that we have."

The first day of the visit highlighted many of the wing's unique assets, including the Pacific Air Forces Regional Training Center, home of the Commando Warrior Combat Skills Training Course, and Hangar 6, future home to the Global Hawk mission. The chief also made stops at various shops within the 36th Maintenance Group as well as the 36th Operations Support Squadron, home of base operations and the flight kitchen.

Day two allowed the chief to gain insight on how the Airmen live and included visits to the Palau and Tinian Hall, the HotSpot, the Coral Reef Fitness Center and Airman Leadership School. In the early afternoon, the focus shifted toward families with a tour of the Child Development Center, Teen Center and Youth Center - all key areas of interest as part of the Year of Air Force Family program.

"We need to make sure we are taking care of our families," Chief McLean said. "The Year of the Air Force Family is a great program that has been launched and will help to provide the focus and continual push to make sure that everybody in the [U.S.] Air Force is getting the support they need - whether it's an unaccompanied single Airman living in the dormitories or whether it's a dependent spouse - everybody will benefit from the Year of the Air Force Family."

The tour closed with a visit to the 36th Medical Group to view one of the wing's newest and recently mobilized assets - the Humanitarian Assistance Rapid Response Team.
Although the wing features many valuable, vital assets that contribute to the day-to-day fight, Chief McLean noted the asset he was most interested in seeing was each and every professional Airman of the 36th Wing.

"I can see airplanes in museums, I can look at buildings any place, but to get a sense of what an organization is like and to really get in touch with a location, you have to talk to the people," Chief McLean said. "Andersen AFB is blessed with terrific people here. It's an honor to come out here and visit them. The enthusiasm and joy they have for serving makes the entire nation proud."