EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- I'll be holding my first commander's call at the base theater Thursday morning at 8 a.m. During the commander's call, I'll be sharing my vision and goals with members of the Mighty 95th Air Base Wing. 

I'll keep my comments short and sweet, but I think it's important to regularly communicate what's happening in the wing. One of the things we'll be discussing is the next Operational Readiness Exercise for the base. That's why immediately following my comments, the installation Inspector General will give an ORE theater brief. 

The briefing is mandatory for all Airmen, but I highly encourage civilians and contractors to attend as well. Not only will you get a bearing on where we're headed for the ORE, but you will also get an idea of what the plans are for this great base.

Keep deployment folders up to date 

Keeping your deployment folder updated is each Airman's responsibility. Parts of this requirement includes training that needs to be refreshed or retaken periodically, such as Explosive Ordinance Reconnaissance; Chemical, Biological, Radiological/Nuclear and Explosives training; Self Aid and Buddy Care; Anti-Terrorism training; and Law of Armed Conflict training. 

The objective of these training sessions is to prepare us physically and mentally for future deployment taskings when we are called to perform our duty in the deployed environment. Additionally, by training like we fight, we significantly increase our expeditionary skills and ultimately our likelihood of accomplishing the mission and returning home safely. 

So, the next time you see a friendly reminder from your unit deployment manager, don't put off scheduling your training because the knowledge may save your life or another Airman's one day. 

Turnover season begins 

With the sun finally reappearing and the weather becoming more and more like the Edwards we're used to, it is time for a lot of people to get ready for permanent change of stations, with the PCS season across our Air Force occurring primarily during the summertime. 

I'd like to remind you, Team Edwards, to be prepared for this time of high turnover.
The mission must continue whether or not we have everyone in place. 

To accomplish this objective, continuity should be maintained; advance planning is key and Airmen should be well trained to be able to perform tasks interchangeably where possible. 

Good long- and short-term planning will help the turnover season go more smoothly, resulting in mission effectiveness and en enjoyable summer for all of us as we say farewell to valued team members and welcome new personnel.