Liberty Wing receives only USAFE ORI outstanding in 2010

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephen Linch
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  The Liberty Wing recently received an operational readiness inspection rating of outstanding, making it the only wing in U.S. Air Forces in Europe in 2010 to receive the highest rating possibly.

According to Master Sgt. Joseph Amaral, 48th Fighter Wing chief of Wing Plans and Inspections NCO in-charge, it took a lot of hard work.

"We had a total of five practice inspections leading up to the inspections," he said, noting the wing continued its day-to-day operations despite the extra work devoted to the exercise. "Once we got done with one exercise, we were immediately preparing for the next."

Through everything the wing's Airmen persevered and stayed upbeat, and the inspectors noticed, said Sergeant Amaral.

"I will tell you, it is very difficult to put into words the difference between an excellent and an outstanding," said Col. Robert Suminsby, USAFE Inspector General. "It's hard to quantify that. We've always said you'll know it when you see it, and we saw it at RAF Lakenheath."

Colonel Suminsby noted that no organization is capable of being perfect, but the units that identify and fix their problems are the most successful.

"The performance of the individual Airmen was leaps and bounds above the standard," said the USAFE IG of two years. "We noted across the wing a willingness to tackle problems and fix them on the spot. "

After seeing Liberty Wing Airmen in action during the inspection, Colonel Suminsby knew he had witnessed outstanding performance.

"The thing that stood out at RAF Lakenheath was leadership: all up and down the chain from Colonel Quintas to Airmen on the line," Colonel Suminsby said. "People were leading and taking charge. Good leadership is a contagious thing, and it was evident at RAF Lakenheath."

The 48th Fighter Wing leadership agreed that Airmen at every level of the wing performed optimally under the scrutiny of the inspectors.

"After a very demanding practice schedule, you truly rose to the occasion and put in your best performance," Col. John Quintas, 48th FW commander, said addressing Liberty Wing Airmen. "I am proud to be a member of this elite fighter wing - we are the best in USAFE and the best in the world.

"Keep up your 'outstanding' work," he added.