319th Command Post rebounds from defeat

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Joseph Kapinos
  • Public Affairs
Grand Forks AFB, ND --  Take a bad training program, mix in new, untrained controllers and sprinkle with a lack of communication. What do you get? A broken command post. 

Luckily, in the case of Grand Forks Air Force Base, there was a way to fix it. 

After reviewing the “eye-opening” results of two Staff Assistance Visits from Air Mobility Command, the command post set their sights on making the tremendous changes that would allow them to pass the wing’s Operational Readiness Inspection in June. In the end, not only did they pass, they excelled and put themselves in competion for command post of the Year. 

“We couldn’t do our primary jobs,” said Maj. Thomas Breen, the 319th Wing command post deputy commander. “Leadership realized things weren’t going well, and failing the SAV in January confirmed that. The wing needed a strong command post for both daily operations and to succeed in the ORI.” 

The SAV highlighted more than 80 deficiencies, some of them requiring immediate attention. With new command post leadership in place and the problems identified, Lt. Col. Harold Brown, then leading the command post, devised a plan to fix the deficiencies by giving controllers the tools they needed to not only accomplish their missions, but to excel at them. 

“We empowered them with responsibility,” said Major Breen. “Previously, they were in a command post where they couldn’t take an active role. The worst part was that they weren’t empowered to make decisions. The organization was performing poorly and people weren't happy.” 

After giving the controllers the tools and the responsibility to fix the problems, the team really started to come together with a common purpose, said Major Breen. Controllers worked hand-in-hand with other command posts, from Hawaii to England, in order to learn everything they could and make the corrections that were needed. 

“Our controllers regularly put in 60 to 100-hour work weeks trying to correct everything, seven days a week,” stated Major Breen. “During exercises, there were some nights where we stayed on-duty all night. Myself included,” he added. 

All that hard work and dedication paid off for the command post Warriors. Another SAV was ordered in April to determine the progress that the team had made. The command post not only passed the SAV, but the inspectors remarked that the wing operations center team was well on its way to a successful ORI. 

After three months of rebuilding, one month of ORI preparation and several weeks of polishing, the team was fired up and ready. 

“Because we had had so much to fix, we were really only hoping to pass,” said Major Breen. “However, as we started to get closer to the ORI, and things started to come together, we could feel a glimmer of optimism that we might do pretty well.” 

But the team did much better than that. In fact, they were awarded excellent ratings in all six areas, three in the deployment and three in the nuclear support mission, said Major Breen. 

All the while, the command post continued to support the Global War on Terrorism and its deployment responsibilities. 

“Most of the time, we were critically undermanned, but still were able to garner these excellent ratings,” said Major Breen. “Some of our controllers were acting in positions that were rated for a much higher rank. Tech. Sgt. James Koester is our superintendent, a job normally reserved for a senior master sergeant, and he showed initiative by overseeing our whole rebuilding effort.” 

According to Major Breen, thanks to hard work of the controllers and the fact that wing leadership made the command post a number one priority, the organization is now considered by many to be one of the “shining stars” of the wing. 

“This rebuilding hasn’t been a bed of roses, but we have learned from our mistakes and overcome a lot,” said Major Breen. “We still aren’t where we want to be, but we’re close, and we’re very proud of what we have done.”