Letter from the Commander and Command Chief

141st Air Refueling Wing Airmen and Family,

We are living in a truly unprecedented time for our historic State, our beloved Nation, and our entire World. Public health emergencies have been initiated at every level of our Government with our State being the epicenter of the 2020 United States Coronavirus pandemic. And just yesterday, our 92 ARW teammates were notified that they had their first confirmed positive test for COVID-19 here at Fairchild Air Force Base.

The next few months will be challenging as we posture to fight an enemy that is still being defined while witnessing historic changes to our society, normalcy, and way of life unlike anything we have seen before.

Your leadership is asking much of you to combat this formidable enemy by adhering to mandated public health emergency guidelines while still maintaining our front-line combat effectiveness, readiness, and long-term mission assurance. The Washington National Guard has effectively established a "mission essential" posture throughout our organizations to protect the health of each Airman, Soldier, and their families while emphasizing social distancing practices and intervention steps.

As a National Guard we must always be ready to answer our State and Nation’s call – a call that could be arriving at any moment. We must continue to adhere to our 14-Day Ready practices while ensuring our 72-hour bags are ready for battle. And we must continue to maintain our health, our emotional-spiritual-physical fitness, and that of our families.

We are the National Guard. We are always available and ready to fight our Nation’s wars, defend our Homeland, and continue to build and strengthen our partnerships so that our freedoms and very way of life can be preserved, enjoyed, and honored. We don’t know what this battle with our COVID-19 enemy will ultimately entail but we do know that we are America’s premier line of defense for the last 383 years and that doesn’t stop today. Be Ready, Team. Thank you!

 

LARRY E. GARDNER, Colonel, WA ANG                                          BRANDON W. IVES, CMSgt, WAANG 

Commander                                                                                        Command Chief

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