Preparing to win Published Jan. 11, 2011 By Col. Stephen N. Whiting 21st Space Wing commander PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- As I sit watching the BCS College Football National Championship Game, it is clear what it would mean to either Auburn or Oregon to win the coveted national championship. As a lifelong Auburn fan (my second favorite sports team only after the Air Force Academy Falcons), I know what it would mean to Auburn fans everywhere to watch their team win their second national championship in more than 118 years of playing college football -- and certainly Oregon fans desperately want to see their team win their first national championship in more than 116 years. Put simply, they are keeping score in the BCS championship game because winning matters. And the team that performs as well as it has all season long will likely win. In the 21st Space Wing, winning matters as well. Our vision statement reminds us that we are, "America's Space Superiority Wing, Globally Postured to Win." Each of these words means something to us. First, the Knights of the 21st Space Wing contribute to freedom of action in space by uniquely operating both defensive and offensive space control systems that protect friendly space assets while denying the use of space to our nation's adversaries. Our units keep constant watch of space to track more than 22,000 manmade objects, while monitoring the skies for any missile launches that would threaten North America. Second, we are truly a global wing with units and operating locations postured around the world. From Copenhagen to Clear, Alaska; from Maui to Moron, Spain; from Thule to Diego Garcia; and at numerous points across the Central Command AOR and the continental United States, Airmen of the 21st Space Wing operate wherever they are needed to support combatant commander taskings. Lastly, our wing vision statement links us to the Air Force mission statement that says the mission of the U.S. Air Force is to "fly, fight, and win in air, space, and cyberspace." Whether we are in combat, in competition, or under inspection, all that we do is designed to make sure we win, and win in the right way. Every member of the wing, no matter their job, no matter where they are stationed, is equally valuable to fulfilling this vision. Each and every day, 21st Space Wing Knights are working to ensure our nation wins its current wars. From defending the wire at Bagram during last year's prolonged attack by insurgents, to commanding a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan, to providing defensive protection of long-haul satellite communications, we are in the fight to win. As 2011 begins, we will once again have the chance to win during deployments, contingency operations, and under inspection. As you are by now aware, we are scheduled to receive an Operational Readiness Inspection and Unit Compliance Inspection from the Headquarters Air Force Space Command Inspector General from Feb. 27 through March 21. There is an old adage that says it is the job of the Inspector General to simulate the enemy in times of peace. While the IG is not our enemy, it is our job to win the right way in every element of the upcoming inspection. We've been focused for well over a year on always being Mission Ready, providing Superior Support, Developing and Deploying Airmen, and Compliance and Continuous Improvement. During the ORI/UCI, we will validate the work we do day-to-day on behalf of the nation, and also demonstrate our preparedness to perform our contingency missions, crisis management, and support functions across all our units in the right way. I look forward to all the future wins the 21st Space Wing will take home this coming year. I know you will earn those wins the right way, faithful to our core values and our wing motto, "Strength and Preparedness." Thanks for all that you do, and now let's get ready for the final push to Feb. 27! (As I finish writing this article, Auburn has just kicked the winning field goal to claim the national championship. Congrats to them for winning!)