Maintenance group welcomes new commander

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Lindsey Maurice
  • 433rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland --  The 433rd Maintenance Group welcomed new commander, Col. Gretchen M. Wiltse, during an assumption of command ceremony, April 12 at the Inter-American Forces Academy auditorium on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Col. William W. Whittenberger Jr., 433rd Airlift Wing commander, presided over the ceremony.

Wiltse comes to the 433rd MXG from Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, where she served as the 512th Mission Support Group commander.

During his opening remarks, Whittenberger told the maintainers, "You are about to have a brand new leader who is extremely smart, capable and energetic," he said.  ". . . You have a new face, a new energy, and you're going to start to see things speed up a little bit."

"You guys are facing a humongous challenge," he continued. "You have to get rid of those eight (C-5-A Galaxy aircraft). You guys are fat on the (traditional) side of the house, and you are short on the (air reserve technician) side.  You are just about to start on a great endeavor of switching over to the "M" Model while keeping the school house going, keeping the operation squadron going, and keeping rapid global mobility going. You guys are right at the leading edge of this and, Colonel Gretchen Wiltse you are here to take them to the next step."

He finished by telling the audience, "I'm very excited to see the energy she brings and her passion for the job. I'm looking forward to the next few years of working with her and what she is going to do with you guys."

After officially assuming command, Wiltse addressed her new unit starting with a list of things she tries to do and think about every day.

This list includes: Do your best, be good to your family, be courteous, be professional, be responsive, be engaged, be courteous, be yourself, find humor, be physically fit and ensure a proper image, and have faith. "Please keep this in mind as you go about your everyday lives," she said.

Wiltse went on to talk about today's slimmer and busy Air Force.

Referring from Air Force Public Affairs guidance, she read, 'Today's Air Force is the smallest, oldest and busiest it's ever been. We have the fewest Airmen and the fewest aircraft since we were created in 1947. The average age of our aircraft is 27 years.'

"So if you want to know what you're doing every day, it's taking care of these things," she said.

"Why are you busy? Because we're the smallest we've ever been. We're flying more than we've ever been. We're in more countries than we knew existed in 1947. We're relevant. You guys have the school house coming, you have three of your aircraft getting M'd (modified) right now, and the others are coming right behind them. . . .  We have a lot ahead of us and I look forward to this journey together."

Wiltse closed with a quote she holds dear by Hunter S. Thompson. "Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming. "Wow! What a Ride!"

The 433rd MXG is comprised of two squadrons; the 433rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and 433rd Maintenance Squadron. The team of military and civilian members provides mission-ready aircraft, equipment, and fully trained personnel in all areas of aircraft maintenance for the C5-A Galaxy aircraft. Their support extends to the 733rd Training Squadron, the C-5A school house, the 68th and 356th Airlift Squadrons. The group also supports the Air Mobility Command in world-wide airlift operations.