MacDill's finest 'firmly in the fight' Published July 23, 2010 By Col. Lenny Richoux 6th Air Mobility Wing Commander MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- "Firmly in the fight." Those are four powerful words that describe mobility Airmen in today's Air Force. When it comes to ongoing operations around the world in Afghanistan and Iraq, that's what we, as Airmen, are: firmly in the fight. Not a single day passes in which an American Airman does not directly contribute to fighting terrorism around the globe. In today's Air Force, deployments to clandestine and dangerous locations are the norm, not the exception. Look around the 6th Air Mobility Wing and you'll see numerous examples of how MacDill AFB's finest are firmly in the fight. Upon taking command of the 6th Air Mobility Wing, I am thrilled to join the men and women of Team MacDill and know that we must work tirelessly to be just that: a team. Teamwork breeds excellence on every military installation, in every unit and on every level. When the members of a unit are united under a common goal there's no limit to what can be accomplished. To be firmly in the fight, we must fight as a team. However, that teamwork ethos that we all must adopt is something that we must carry with us everywhere. With that idea in mind, members of the 6th Air Mobility Wing deployed abroad are leading the way in the all-important team that consists of our fellow military services and coalition partners. Upon visiting the 6th Mission Support Group's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight, I learned of a prime example of teamwork on the highest level. During his fourth combat deployment, Tech Sgt. Jonathan Quast found himself in southern Iraq training Iraqi Police on explosive ordnance disposal. Along with only two teammates, he successfully trained 60 Iraqis on the basics of explosive ordnance disposal. Common, shared experiences in the face of danger often result in creating personal bonds that will stand the test of time, no matter how different two cultures may be. Tech Sgt. Quast and his team embodied the teamwork spirit that is an absolute necessity to help the United States and our partners win the fight around the world. So in every situation, be it on-duty or with friends downtown, in or out of uniform, keep the basics of teamwork close at heart and know that being a member of Team MacDill is a 24/7 requirement. And if you struggle to understand your role in the team concept, give Sergeant Quast a call, he can tell you all about teamwork.