Historical moment

PAPA AIR BASE, Hungary -- Col. Frank Rombouts (Center), Royal Netherlands Air Force commander, addresses the crowd while Brig. Gen. Thomas Sharpy (Right), Director of Plans, Programs and Analyses for U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, looks on, during an Assumption of Command ceremony here June 12. Rombouts is the third commander to take control of the HAW since the Wing's inception in 2009. U.S. Air Force Photo By Tech. Sgt. Patrick Mitchell

Military tradition

PAPA AIR BASE, Hungary -- Brig. Gen. Thomas Sharpy, Director of Plans, Programs and Analyses for U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa (Left) presents the Heavy Airlift Wing guidon to Col. Frank Rombouts, Royal Netherlands Air Force commander (Right), during an Assumption of Command ceremony here June 12. Rombouts is the third commander to take control of the HAW since the Wing's inception in 2009. U.S. Air Force Photo By Tech. Sgt. Patrick Mitchell

Saluting the new commander

PAPA AIR BASE, Hungary -- Airmen assigned to the Heavy Airlift Wing here salute Col. Frank Rombouts (Center), Royal Netherlands Air Force commander, while Brig. Gen. Thomas Sharpy (Right), Director of Plans, Programs and Analyses for U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, looks on during an Assumption of Command ceremony here June 12. Rombouts is the third commander to take control of the HAW since the Wing's inception in 2009. U.S. Air Force Photo By Tech. Sgt. Patrick Mitchell

HAW welcomes new commander

Published June 13, 2013
By Tech. Sgt. Patrick Mitchell
U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa Public Affairs

PAPA AIR BASE, Hungary -- Col. Frank Rombouts, Royal Netherlands Air Force commander, assumed command of the Heavy Airlift Wing during a ceremony here June 12.

The Strategic Airlift Capability Heavy Airlift Wing is the operational arm of the multinational Strategic Airlift Capability. It operates three Boeing C-17 Globemaster III long-range cargo jets providing strategic military airlift capability to the SAC Nations consisting of NATO members Hungary, Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and the United States, as well as NATO Partnership for Peace nations Finland and Sweden.

Brig. Gen. Thomas Sharpy, Director of Plans, Programs and Analyses for U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa and the Chairman, Strategic Airlift Capability Steering Board, served as the presiding officer for the assumption of command.

"The HAW commander does not only need an intricate knowledge of airpower, but also cultural awareness and a diverse understanding of the international community on all levels." Sharpy said.
After accepting the unit guidon from Sharpy, Rombouts addressed his Airmen for the first time as commander of the HAW.

"Yes we are fully operational capable, but the ice is still very thin, as we say in the Netherlands." said Rombouts. "We do fly all missions, but we now need to start working up to being a military unit. I sometimes use the airdrop mission to explain what I mean with this. We can do airdrop; we can do it in Afghanistan. But can we do it on day one of Gulf war scenario from low level? This is the question we must ask ourselves."

Rombouts said his goal is to ensure the 12 nations of the HAW work seamlessly as one. He calls his method the 13th nation.

"For those of you in the audience who don't know what I mean; I am speaking of the culture of the HAW, of the work atmosphere," Rombouts said. "I have told you that the old paradigm of treat others as you want to be treated does not work here. I have also told you that you will insult people and that you will be insulted. You must realize this, for if you do, you can cope with it much easier."