CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- As we begin this new chapter for the 130th Airlift Wing, we want to speak directly to the Airmen and families who define this organization. Serving this wing is one of the greatest honors of our lives. Throughout our service, one thing has remained constant: The strength of the 130th Airlift Wing is its people.
Our vision is clear: be the world’s premier airlift wing, providing the most qualified, capable and professional Airmen in support of our state and nation. That vision is grounded in the values that shape this wing: ready, respectful and responsive.
Readiness remains our top priority. Respect drives how we treat one another, the uniform and the heritage we are responsible for. Responsiveness reflects who we are as a tactical airlift unit. When the call comes, we go without hesitation.
These principles guide our three focus areas: Ready Airmen, Airman Development and Mission Execution.
Every Airman will be qualified in their AFSC, proficient at their core competencies and working toward mastery of their craft. The Air Force is a technical service and our national defense depends on Airmen who can perform with precision at all levels. We are committed to providing time and opportunities or removing roadblocks necessary to build and sustain that expertise.
Development begins with high expectations across the force. NCOs and senior NCOs play a pivotal role in building, teaching and leading. That means offering challenging training, encouraging growth and preparing our Airmen for the next fight. It also requires embracing failure in the appropriate environments and circumstances and using those failures to learn and grow as Airmen and leaders. Upholding the standards that made Charlie West a premier organization is our shared responsibility.
This wing exists to execute our federal and state missions. Through our preparation for these missions, we send a clear and defining message to our adversaries, and every Airman contributes to that deterrence. When our Airmen are trained, equipped and confident, the wing performs at the highest level and our fellow citizens have confidence in our ability to respond in our communities and across the nation, when needed.
In the short time as your new leadership team, the wing has proved, once again, who we are and what we stand for. Even with the challenges of the longest government shutdown in our nation’s history, our Airmen kept showing up and delivering. We continued our support to Operation D.C. Safe and Beautiful, stepped up to help our state with food bank operations in a time of great need, and prepared multiple units for contingency deployments around the world. Through it all, you showed what it means to answer the call by being ready, professional, and taking care of the mission and each other despite difficult circumstances.
As your command team, we are committed to giving our Airmen 100 percent of what we have every day. Our duty is to lead, support and empower you by removing barriers, upholding standards and ensuring your service is meaningful and supported. We intend to carry forward the high expectations set by those who came before us. This wing is known worldwide for excellence, and it is our responsibility to maintain and advance that legacy. We look forward to all that the Airmen of the 130th Airlift Wing will achieve together.
Charlie West - always Ready to Go!