Inspection running smoothly, keep up great work Published April 9, 2009 By Commentary by Col. Jay Raymond 21st Space Wing Commander PETERSON AFB, Colo. -- Our Operational Readiness and Compliance Inspections are in full swing and the Air Force Space Command Inspector General team is hard at work, combing through our processes, programs and observing our emergency responses. We are over half way done, but that does not mean we can let up or lose our focus. In fact, the vast majority of the remaining parts of the inspections are now devoted to our home soil, right here at Peterson . I want each and every one of you to continue to impress the Air Force Space Command inspection team with your crisp processes and flawless professionalism. I heard a great story from the inspection at Cape Cod that I would like to share with you. Airman First Class Amy Maddox, a security torces Airmen assigned to the 6th Space Warning Squadron, had prepared very hard for the IG inspection. When the IG visited her work center, she was not inspected and was very disappointed. This Airman requested the IG inspector come back to her work center so she could give the inspector her post briefing. She delivered a flawless brief and then recited the Airmen's Creed, alternating every other line with her crew partner. The IG inspector coined her on the spot. Congratulations to Amn Maddox...well done. For those of us in the military, April is the Month of the Military Child, Sexual assault Awareness month and for AFSPC's Year of Leadership, April's theme is "Character". Last Friday, I had the pleasure of kicking off the "Month of the Military Child" at the Child Development Center. Throughout the month, our base has many activities planned which focus on military children and their families. This is a time to recognize our children and families that have to deal with unique situations and conditions that come with being in the military. One of our best ways in which we support and care for our Airmen's children is through the CDC and CDC Annex. Our CDC is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, a very difficult accreditation to achieve, and speaks volumes about the center's dedication to caring for the children in their charge. Our CDCs have a variety of activities to focus on military children and their families, and my thanks goes out to the staff for their hard work in not only caring for our children, but in recognizing the military child's special role. On June 3, 2005, the Air Force implemented its Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program, designed to prevent and eliminate sexual assault, provide victim care where assault has occurred, and to hold accountable those who commit such acts. Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley said, "Sexual assault is absolutely inconsistent with our core values, and it has no place in our Air Force; in a deployed context, at home or anywhere in between," and I echo his words wholeheartedly. The theme for this year's sexual assault prevention campaign is "My Strength is for Defending," and our local SARC program has several activities planned, including a Fun Run on April 30 and a series of mandatory classes, dubbed "Sex Signals," scheduled for June. I encourage everyone to participate in the fun run and expect everyone to attend the classes. Continuing with APSC's Year of Leadership April's theme of "Character" Character is an essential trait of leadership. Character is equal to your moral compass, leading you on a path to do what is right. Your character guides your decision making process to keep your orders lawful and balanced. Many character traits are summed up in words synonymous with the military: Bearing, competence, commitment, self-discipline, humility and flexibility. Let's ensure we incorporate positive character it into our daily interactions. Last Friday, we held our monthly Deployed Family Dinner, again thanking the families of our deployed warriors for their sacrifice. It is always difficult to have your loved ones away from home, and this monthly event is our way of saying thank you for your tremendous sacrifice and we are here to support you. Caring for our Airmen and their families is one of our AF's top priorities and a 21st Space Wing Core Competency.